Waxahachie senior Josh Harris was pushed all season long by teammate and classmate Jaylen Burke to get better in the triple jump — and vice versa — as both battled through the spring and into the championship meet season.
Unfortunately, Burke was not able to keep pace after falling short in the regional meet, but Harris will represent the Indians this weekend in the University Interscholastic League state track and field championships at Mike A. Myers Stadium on the University of Texas campus in Austin.
Harris is seeded sixth in the 6A boys’ triple jump with his leap of 47 feet, 10 inches at the Class 6A Region II meet two weeks ago. Harris will compete on Saturday morning at state. Fort Bend Travis’ Damilare Olukosi is the favorite to win gold after posting the top regional distance of 50-9.
The friendly rivalry between Burke and Harris goes back long before even the District 11-6A meet in Duncanville, when Burke and Harris finished 1-2 in the triple jump. Burke won the gold medal with a leap of 46 feet, 5.25 inches, and Harris was close behind at 46 feet even.
Both advanced to the District 11-6A/12-6A area meet at Waco Midway, and again Burke won the gold medal with a jump of 47 feet, 8 inches while Harris cleared 47-1. But at regionals, Burke placed seventh in the triple jump, clearing 44-3, while Harris went on to win the gold medal.