Gateway’s Austin Lockhart chasing school record, WPIAL success in triple jump

By: Michael Love
Sunday, April 20, 2025 | 11:01 AM

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Austin Lockhart leapt 43 feet, 3 inches in the triple jump at last year’s WPIAL Class 3A track and field championships at Slippery Rock.

It wasn’t his best distance of the season. That was a 44-5 at a regular-season invitational.

But his top jump in his WPIAL debut earned him a spot on the medals podium in fifth place and also provided a great deal of momentum heading into the offseason to be best prepared for his final outdoor season this spring.

“WPIALs was a lot of fun,” said Lockhart, now a senior.

“It was a great atmosphere to compete. Overall, there was some pressure, but I like those tense kind of situations. They push me to jump better. I am looking forward to doing even better there this year and qualify for states.”

So far, so good for Lockhart who recorded a season-best 44-¼ in winning the triple jump at last Wednesday’s section dual meet with Franklin Regional. That top distance was an improvement on a 42-7.5 which placed him third at the Tri-State Track Coaches Association meet three days earlier.

Lockhart at WPIALs last year missed an automatic trip to states (top four) by three inches.

“Over the summer, it was mainly lifting and getting stronger,” Lockhart said.

“I didn’t do any specific jump workouts or anything like that. Moving into the fall, I was doing more plyometrics and jump-centered work. Getting to WPIALs and getting so close to states, I wanted to do whatever I could to prepare to get back (to WPIALs) and take that next step.”

Lockhart said he also was able to improve through the indoor season which provided him the chance to see the summer and fall training was paying off.

“Because I hadn’t been on the runway and doing jumps between the end of the outdoor season and the start of the indoor season, to come back and do almost as good as I had done when I ended the (2024) outdoor season, it really boosted my confidence,” Lockhart said.

The Tri-State meet was the first invitational opportunity this spring for Lockhart and the other Gateway athletes.

In addition to his third-place finish in the triple jump, he landed a 19-9 in the long jump to finish 20th and was a part of the third-place 100-meter relay with Aaron Staley, Isaiah Kelley and Jayden Stammer (43.57).

“I’ll be honest with you, it was cold,” Lockhart said of the jumping and running conditions at the Tri-State meet where temperatures struggled to make it into the 40s.

“Besides that, it was a good meet for me. My (jumping phases) felt pretty good, for the triple, at least. It helped me see that there was work still to be done, and I was able to hit 44 (against Franklin Regional).”

Lockhart said he’s excited to go after the triple jump school record. Eric Jones owns the all-time mark of 45-11¼ set in 2006.

“Hopefully, I am able to get over 46,” he said. “I would like to get 47 or better, but I think that is a stretch.”

Hitting 46 feet was a goal Lockhart hoped to reach as he competed last Thursday at the annual Butler Invitational. The meet was to conclude past the deadline for this week’s edition.

He also hoped to soar past 20 feet in the long jump.

Lockhart also hopes for good things at Saturday’s South Fayette Invitational and also at the prestigious Baldwin Invitational on May 2.

Then the focus turns to preparation for the WPIAL championships May 14 at Slippery Rock. The top four place finishers in each Class 3A event at WPIALs earn an automatic trip to states May 23-24 at Shippensburg.

“Right now, my goal is to go top three (in the triple jump),” Lockhart said.

“A WPIAL title would be amazing, though. I am looking forward to seeing what happens there.”

Gateway assistant coach for the jumps, Bill McCord, said Lockhart is on pace to meet his triple jump goals.

“His goal is to break the record,” McCord said. “He’s stronger this year. A big thing for him is his self-esteem knowing that he can keep getting better and jump further to go after that record. That gives him a lot of motivation and energy. He takes instruction so well to where even a slight change can make a difference.”

Lockhart said good things also are in the offing for the current 400 relay lineup which bettered its Tri-State time with a winning and season-best 43.4 against Franklin Regional.

“Overall, the relay is looking good. Everyone is running really well,” Lockhart said.

“The handoff between me and Jayden needed some work, but we were able to get that down and taken care of. Kelley, Staley and I were on a relay last year, and we had that chemistry. Bringing in Stammer added so much to what this relay can do.”

The relay, Lockhart said, hopes to be in top form heading to WPIALs with a goal of going under 43 to somewhere around mid 42 at some point before the end of the season.

Michael Love is a TribLive reporter covering sports in the Alle-Kiski Valley and the eastern suburbs of Pittsburgh. A Clearfield native and a graduate of Westminster (Pa.), he joined the Trib in 2002 after spending five years at the Clearfield Progress. He can be reached at mlove@triblive.com.

Tags: Gateway