Name: Rayan Green
High school: Jim Thorpe
Grade: Junior
Sport: Track and field
Accomplishments: Broke the Jim Thorpe school record, as well as his personal record, by clearing 6 feet, 4 inches in the high jump during a dual meet against Nativity last Wednesday. Green’s previous career high and school record was 6-3, set last year at District 11 Championships. Green is the two-time defending Schuylkill League champ in the high jump and qualified for the PIAA Track and Field Championships the past two years in the event in Class AAA.
Age: 16 (turns 17 later this week)
Hometown: Albrightsville
Family: Shelly Staples (mother), Sean Sinclair (father)
Athletes I admire: Usain Bolt, LeBron James
Favorite sports teams: University of Kentucky basketball
Other sports played at Jim Thorpe: Basketball (averaged 9.3 points per game this past season for the Olympians)
What grade did you start track and field: Ninth.
Why is the high jump your favorite event: “I just like it because it is more of a technique thing. It is just really fun for me to jump that high and get over the bar. It is just different to me. I feel like I jump pretty high for as tall (6-6) as I am. I really do enjoy it.”
Why do you feel you broke your personal and school record so early in the season: “I was working over the summer for a month with my cousin (Ricardo Kennedy) at Kutztown University. He’s a high jumper, too, and he high-jumps in New Jersey. His PR is 6-8. His training and everything, it just got me better. I have to give a big thanks to my cousin.”
Other events you compete in track and field at Jim Thorpe: 110 hurdles, 300 hurdles, triple jump
How do you feel you are doing in those: “My 110 time is dropping. I feel like I am getting faster in that. I can do better in the 300 hurdles, I know that for sure. Triple jump is looking really good. I never really liked it my freshman and sophomore year, but now I have more of an understanding of it so I starting to like that.”
What do you have to work on to get better in the high jump: “I just have to work on my legs more, my calves, my hamstrings, everything. Just need to do some leg presses. Listen to the coach.”
Individual goals for this season: “My biggest goal is to make it to states again and to jump at least 6-7 (in the high jump). I am trying to get the triple jump record, too (current school record is 44-6 set by Alex Garcia in 2010).”
Post-graduation plans: Attend college and compete in track and field
Past winner
• March 31 — Sara Tobin, Pottsville, softball