Sport

Track & Field

Event

High Jump

Major

Kinesiology

Alex's Story

When it comes to this year’s track and field season, you could say that Alex Templeton is soaring to old heights.

Alex first tried the high jump in 2009 as a junior at Poway High School, where he set a personal best of 6’ 9” -- half a foot higher than his listed height of 6’ 3”. But after his senior season, he spent five years away from the landing pits.

The road back to track and field has been a winding one. After a series of issues and injuries, and working a full-time job, Alex enrolled at Grossmont College in the fall of 2014. He also suited up for the Griffins…as a punter.

In two seasons of booting the ball for the green-and-gold (which he had also done while at Poway), he racked up an average of 38.4 yards on 120 kicks, with a long of 65 yards and only 6 touchbacks -- good enough to sign on to continue his career with Lincoln University in Missouri.

But before he travels east, he’s spending the spring working on his springs for the Coyotes.

“It’s just been a blessing.” says Alex. “I wasn’t really into it at first, but I started doing well, and started to put more effort into it.”

Exceptional honesty, to go with some exceptional results. After clearing 6’ 1.5” at the season’s opening meet, Alex climbed to 6’ 3.5”, 6’ 5.5”, and 6’ 8” over the next few weeks. While still an inch off his best height from high school, his current mark has him ranked third in the state.

“I’ve always enjoyed the atmosphere in track and field,” says Alex. “Football has its competitiveness, and track and field does, too. In track, there are more events going on, more excitement. And when you clear a bar, when you make a height, it’s pretty exhilarating.”