Valley’s Darius Johnson wins PIAA high jump with personal best
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Friday, May 25, 2018 | 3:57 PM
SHIPPENSBURG — Car trouble kept Darius Johnson's mother from making the cross-state trip, and his coach stayed home to care for a family member.
But Johnson wasn't troubled, and instead gave them all reason to smile on an otherwise perfect afternoon.
The Valley high jumper needed only one attempt at each height to clear 6 feet, 6-2, 6-4, 6-6 and finally 6-7 to win the title at the PIAA Class AA boys track and field championships Friday at Shippensburg.
The winning height was a personal best for Johnson, who'd never before run through an event with such perfection.
“I have no words right now, I'm so happy,” Johnson said. “I want to cry, but I'm trying to keep all those emotions in.”
Johnson's previous best was 6-6.
His mother, Tyffanie King, was miles away but still able to celebrate: “I know I'm going to hear a lot from her when I call her,” said Johnson, who gave his cell phone to an assistant coach during the high jump to keep her and others back home updated.
“He was on Facebook Live,” Johnson said with a smile, “so everybody that's supporting me can watch at home.”
They surely liked what they saw. The senior edged Hopewell's Dantae Ranieri, who reached 6-6 but failed to clear 6-7. The two jumpers also finished first and second at WPIALs, with Johnson winning both gold medals. Nobody else in the 24-person PIAA field cleared 6-6, leaving the two WPIAL jumpers to face off once again.
“It's good to have him jumping by me because he gives me a push to be better,” Johnson said. “And he said the same thing to me, that I make him want to jump higher.”
Only two WPIAL athletes won gold on the first day of states, Johnson and South Park thrower Maura Huwalt, who won the Class AA girls discus. The two-day meet concludes Saturday with all of the track finals and the remaining field events.
Johnson is committed to IUP for football but hopes he'll be able to compete with the track team as well. He cleared 6-5 in Shippensburg last year to place fourth in the state. He returned this year determined to do better.
“I've always told myself that I've wanted to take Top 3,” Johnson said, “but the No. 1 spot sounds nice, and I got the No. 1 spot. I basically put Valley (back) on the map. We haven't had a good high jumper in a couple of years.”
One of his harder tests Friday was patience. With temperatures in the 80s, Johnson stood around more than an hour waiting for his first jump. The event started at 5-8 and Johnson entered at 6-foot.
Once he joined, he realized this could be a special day.
“I always say that I jump like I'm coming off of a trampoline, but I'm not going to say that today,” Johnson said. “I flew like a bird or an eagle or a plane. I don't know how to express it, but that's the best jump I've ever done.”
Chris Harlan is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at charlan@tribweb.com or via Twitter @CHarlan_Trib.
Tags: Valley
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