CHS high jumper Matt Sidney reaches new heights
By Mike BergerCHS high jumper Matt Sidney ended the indoor track season last weekend in the Nationals where he tied for 14th at six feet, two and one quarter inches.
Earlier this season at the Hockomock League Championship Meet he broke the school’s winter indoor record and tied the Hockomock League indoor meet record at 6’9”.
But perhaps the most amazing aspect of Sidney’s high jumping career is that he only reached 5’2” as a freshman and 6’2” as a sophomore. To improve by seven inches as a junior in a difficult track event is remarkable.
“I would not have been surprised to see 6’6” or 6’7”, but what he did (in the Hock meet) was beyond description,” CHS track coach Chris Elgar said. “I have never in a decade heard the [Reggie Lewis Track Center] dead quiet. You could hear his footsteps as he made his approach.”
Sidney said he knew the competition at the league meet would be formidable and said his first jump at five feet, eight inches was not a good one. With three jumpers hitting six feet on his second jump, he knew that he would have to perform better to win the event. On his record-setting mark, he felt he had a good approach and got good lift on his final step. “That jump looked good and I felt awesome,” he said. “I was very excited.”
A week later Sidney jumped 6’4” and then continued his streak with a 6’4” jump at the Class C meet that earned him fourth place and entry to the New England Championships where he jumped 6’3” and just missed 6’5”.
Elgar said when Sidney was a freshman the track team had a very talented, successful group of high jumpers. “I think having the talent to work with and learn from them was very helpful early on, but I also think creating his own shadow with their departure has led to some of his growth this winter,” he said. “Matt is willing to work on the ‘small’ things like perfecting his approach, specifically his turn. He has not relied on the fact that he is talented and tall. When Matt is ‘on’ he is actually a very graceful high jumper.”
Elgar also noted that Sidney is very goal oriented. “When he attains a target, he doesn’t bask long in it but makes his next goal and resumes working towards the next one,” he said.
Sidney had competed in soccer and basketball, but never tried the high jump in middle school. He acknowledges graduates Bobby Saraf, Matt Wing and Michael Bates as high jump role models and credits coaches Elgar and Conor Sheehan for their help and his fellow teammates for their enthusiasm, cheering and support for him to perform better.
Besides the high jump this spring, Sidney hopes to help the team in the triple and long jumps. During the indoor season he also spent time as a member of the 4×400 relay team. Sidney played soccer his freshman and sophomore years but decided to train on his own this fall.
He hopes to join the cross country team next year to train for his final winter and spring track seasons.
Short URL: https://www.thecantoncitizen.com/?p=1789
Posted by Mike Berger
on Mar 18 2010. Filed under High School, Sports.
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