VAL ANTHONY GOLSTON-IDABEL

Idabel junior Val Anthony Golston says he’s always been a good jumper. “I could touch the basketball rim when I was in middle school.” And now he’s putting that jumping ability to use as a member of the Warriors track team where he takes part in the long jump and high jump. “I pretty much just played football and basketball growing up and even my first year in high school I just lifted weights for football in the spring. But last year I came out just to see what track was like and I started out just doing the long jump. It was a little easier than I thought it would be because they let you work at your own pace to get things done,” said Golston.

His coach John Harjo has been impressed with the progress Val Anthony has made in the short time he’s been in track. “He started out just doing the long jump and this year he’s working on the high jump and maybe the hurdles. He’s got some good genes for track as his father, Val, was a three-time gold medal winner in high school throwing the shotput and discus.”

Although he’s warming up to track, basketball has always been his favorite sport but one of his high school highlights came this year on the football field.

“We were playing Valliant, and I had a punt return touchdown and a couple of good catches,” he said.

Although he’s always been a jumper, Val Anthomy admits that getting the technique down for the high jump this year has been tricky.

“My biggest challenge in the high jump is getting my back in just the right position to get over the bar. A lot of it for me is about rhythm. If my steps aren’t lining up when I get ready to jump, it throws everything off.”

Val Anthony says one of his goals for this track season is to jump at least 23 feet and qualify for state.