Five years ago, as a 15-year-old track-and-field star at Semiahmoo Secondary, high-jumper Alexa Porpaczy told Peace Arch News that it was her goal to clear a bar as tall as she was – no easy feet for someone who stands five-foot-11.
“My coach always says that to be a really great high-jumper, you have to be able to jump over your own head, so that’s always been a goal of mine, to get to that point,” she said at the time, noting she would have to clear 1.8 metres in order to accomplish that goal.
And while she’s come close many times – Porpaczy has been ranked at or near the top of her age-group among Canadian high-jumpers for years – last weekend in Tucson, Ariz. the South Surrey athlete, now 20 and competing for the University of Arizona, jumped her height and then some – clearing the bar at 1.83 m (six feet) at the NCAA’s Willie Williams Classic.
A couple more PRs in the Women's High Jump 👊
2. @alexajp_ ” 1.83m (6-0) PR
3. Karla Teran ” 1.78m (5-10)
4. @diana_sacaria ” 1.73m (5-8)
5. Skylar Sieben ” 1.68m (5-6) PRAlexa's mark is currently the second-best in the country!#BearDown | #BeLezoLike pic.twitter.com/uLMdt3v1Zn
— Arizona Track & Field (@ArizonaTrack) March 20, 2021
The mark was a personal best, and also ranked Porpaczy, a sophomore, second in the entire NCAA among female high-jumpers at outdoor meets. Her height of 1.83 m is actually tied for first, but Porpaczy ranks second as a result of having one more jump than her competitor.
The NCAA’s outdoor season has only just begun, but Porpaczy’s mark is currently the tops in Canada and tied for fifth in the world.
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