“Grand Forks Red River’s Pope flies high on the first try”
From the GF Herald’s Greg DeVillers:
Devon Pope hadn’t practiced high jumping all season. He hadn’t competed in the event since the first meet of the 2015 high school track season. But, with nothing better to do, he decided to high jump in Grand Forks Red River’s final regular-season meet.
All the 5-foot-11 Pope did was clear the bar at 6 feet, 2 inches to qualify for the state meet. The Red River junior showed that he’s not only one of the best horizontal, but also vertical, jumpers in the North Dakota Class A state high school track ranks.
“I was in only three events that day,” Pope said. “I was sort of bored. So I figured I might as well give it a try.
“It was a real surprise to me. I didn’t think I’d get that high. I was hoping to clear 5-8.”
Going into the state meet, to be held Friday and Saturday in Bismarck, Pope is the No. 1 seed in the triple jump, an event in which he was state runner-up last season and in which he’s the only athlete to reach 45 feet this season. And he’s tied for the No. 7 seed in the high jump while also qualifying for the long jump.
“I didn’t know about it,” Red River coach Jeff Bakke said of Pope’s high-jump plans. “I might have told him no, don’t do it. He’s been banged up. We wanted him to do a few relays that day and save on his legs.”
To hit a state-qualifying standard without practice, “I’d say that’s a pretty rare occurrence,” Bakke said. “It shows what an incredible athlete he is, that he has great jumping ability.’’
Pope showed that athleticism a year ago, when he was runner-up as a sophomore in the triple jump at state. The only one to beat him was an NCAA Division I-bound athlete, Ty Brooks of Fargo South who is now with the North Dakota State football program.
“That’s an event usually dominated by upperclassmen, the older kids who are bigger, stronger, faster,” Bakke said. “It indicates what a good athlete Devon is. And to perform that well at state, on the big stage, that was impressive.
“His best event is still the triple jump. He’s really fast down the runway and he’s able to carry that speed into the sand. Some guys can’t do that. But he keeps his hips moving through that phase.”
As good as Pope is in track, it is his secondary sport. No. 1? “Football, no doubt,’’ said Pope, whose older brother, Elby, played football at University of Mary and his cousin is Bemidji State-bound Derek Murph, Red River’s starting quarterback the past two seasons.
For now, however, Pope’s concentration is on track and an event Grand Forks jumpers could dominate at state. Pope has the state’s longest jump at 45 feet, 6 inches. The second-best is by Grand Forks Central’s Sam Cherilus (44-6.5), with Red River freshman Carlos Horcacitas third (44-1). No other jumper in the state has reached 44 feet this spring.
“We think that would be so cool, for Grand Forks to have the top three at state,’’ Pope said.
Class A boys
5 area athletes to watch
Ty Boucher, Red River
A sixth-place finisher in the 3,200 at state last season, Boucher is seeded fourth in both the 1,600 and 3,200.
David Hettich, GF Central
The senior is a versatile distance runner. After finishing eighth in the 1,600 last season, he enters the state meet with top-eight seeds in the 800 (fourth), 3,200 (fifth) and 1,600 (seventh).
Daniel Pierce, Red River
The junior has been a standout thrower. He enters state with the No. 1 seed in the javelin. He’s the lone Class A thrower to reach 180 feet this season.
Devon Pope, Red River
The junior was runner-up in the triple jump at state last season. He enters state this year as the No. 1 seed and the only triple jumper to surpass 45 feet this season. He’s also tied for the sixth-best high jump in the state this spring.
Peter Wysocki, Red River
The junior has emerged as the leader of the Riders’ deep hurdling corps. Wysocki goes into the state meet seeded third in the 110 hurdles and fourth in the 300 hurdles.
Returning state placers
100: 4. Bradley Davidson, Devils Lake
200: 5. Davidson, Devils Lake
400: 7. Davidson, Devils Lake
800: 4. David Hettich, GF Central
1,600: 8. Hettich, GF Central
3,200: 4. Leif Larsen, GF Central; 6. Ty Boucher, GF Red River
110 hurdles: 2. Mo Kamara, Red River; 8. Tyler Enerson, Red River
Triple jump: 2. Devon Pope, Red River
Area top-8 open seeds
100: 3. Bradley Davidson, Devils Lake
800: 4. David Hettich, GF Central
1,600: 4. Ty Boucher, GF Red River; 7. Hettich, GF Central
3,200: 4. Boucher, Red River; 5. Hettich, GF Central; 7. Ben Hutchison, Red River
110 hurdles: 3. Peter Wysocki, Red River; 5. Mo Kamara, Red River; 6. Ty Enerson, Red River
300 hurdles: 4. Wysocki, Red River
Triple jump: 1. Devon Pope, Red River; 2. Sam Cherilus, GF Central; 3. Carlos Horcacitas, Redd River; 7. Zach Dahlen, Devils Lake
High jump: 7. (tie) Pope, Red River
Pole vault: 3. (tie) Alex Holmes, Red River
Shot put: 8. Carter Buelow, Red River
Javelin: 1. Daniel Pierce, Red River; 4. Ty Ogren, Red River
To be sure, the Century boys track team doesn’t have a second straight state title sewn up. The vagaries associated with track and field have long been known to separate expectations from actual results.
However, the Patriots do have one clear advantage on the other contenders going into this week’s state meet at the Community Bowl.
Coach Tim Jacobsen doesn’t need to do is pull a rabbit out of his hat to come out on top. If the Patriots just run to form they should be in good shape as they pursue another title.
Jacobsen, however, recoils at the idea that Century has the edge in its run at a second state championship.
“It’s a juggling act. There will be some highs and there will be some lows. It seems like that’s the way it is every year,” Jacobsen said.
“I don’t think there will be a team that scores 200 points. It’s all about the team that can put it together at the end,” Jacobsen added. “It’s much like any other year. If you want to finish on top you’re going to need some surprises.”
While Jacobsen is taking nothing for granted, Bismarck coach Darrell Anderson, says the days of his team looming as the team to beat are gone.
“That’s not the case this year,” Anderson said. “All we can do is maximize our performance. The best scenario is for us to do well where we are and let the chips fall where they may.”
Bismarck had won 11 straight state track championships before being dethroned last season.
It appears Century, with at least one entrant in every event, has the potential to cover up some of those lows Jacobsen mentioned with depth. The Patriots have qualified 31 athletes, including the top qualifiers in four events. Senior Zach Sweep is the leading qualifier in the 110 hurdles (14.34), senior Max Cook has the longest leap in the long jump (23-4), and Century leads the way in the two short relays (42.65 in the 400 and 1:30.61 in the 800).
Century’s two most likely challengers, West Region runner-up Bismarck and East Region champion Grand Forks Red River, have qualified 26 athletes apiece. Bismarck senior Hunter Johnson has the fastest times in the 100 (10.80) and the 200 (21.95). BHS will be represented in 17 of the 19 events.
Red River juniors Devon Pope and Daniel Pierce lead the way in the triple jump (48-6) and javelin (181-7), respectively.
Century put up 205.5 points in winning last week’s West Region meet, placing first in eight events along the way. Bismarck with 153 was the only other team to crack 100.
Jacobsen said the regional meet was not primarily about point production, though.
“For us it was a chance to answer a few questions and get a few more qualifiers, particularly on the track,” he said.
Jacobsen said there’s one respect in which the Patriots’ 200-plus regional performance can be interpreted as a good omen.
“It is (positive) to the point that as a group we’re starting to get healthy. I think that showed on Friday, and I hope it carries forward to the state meet.”
Red River scored 147 points to outdistance Fargo Davies (137) and Fargo South (132) in a closely-contested East Region meet. Davies brings 15 qualifiers to the state meet and South qualified 21 athletes.
Several CHS placers return from last year, defending champions Zach Sweep (110 hurdles) and Lucas Mayer (high jump) among them, but Jacobsen says this team is not a replica of the 2015 champions.
“We’ve been a little stronger in the field events (this season) than we have in the past, but on the track the kids are going to have to contribute and rise to the occasion,” Jacobsen observed.
Anderson isn’t throwing in the towel before the first race is run, but he acknowledges his team faces a huge task.
“Anything is possible. That’s why you show up. But it’s really different to look at a two-day athletic event and say you have to be perfect,” he said. “Holding on to get second might be a more realistic goal. Minot, Red River, Legacy and Fargo South all have their share of top performers.”
Anderson said the 2015 championship should help Century this time around, enabling them to compete with the knowledge that a title is within reach.
“I think Century can ride this out. What happened last year should help them,” Anderson said.