Boys track and field: Chandler jumps to forefront

Barry Faulkner

COSTA MESA - Improving by leaps and bounds is, well, convenient for

one who competes in the high, long and triple jumps. But after winning

all three in just his second competitive meet Tuesday against Pacific

Coast League visitor Laguna Beach High, it’s clear Estancia senior Travis

Chandler is on the fast track to PCL title contention.

“I’m getting a (personal record) just about every time I jump,” said the

former basketball point guard, who was talked into trying the field

events by Estancia junior jumper, and basketball player, Alexis

Concepcion.

“Lexus (out with a foot injury Thursday) said I ought to give it a try,”

said the 6-foot, 155-pound Chandler, who also benefits from size 12 feet.

“The last time I jumped was in the eighth grade. I don’t think I would

have been any good as a freshman, because I was so small. But my body has

changed a lot since then.”

Chandler cleared 6-0 to win the high jump, two inches better than his

victorious mark in last week’s debut against Costa Mesa.

His long jump effort (19-4 3/4) was nearly one foot better than his

previous best and Thursday’s triple jump (40-3 1/2) was 18 1/2 inches

farther than he’d been before.

“Once he learns more technique, he’s going to go farther,” said Dominic

Lakey, the Eagles’ jumping coach.

“He came out of nowhere,” said Estancia Coach Steve Crenshaw, who wishes

he could lure more athletes from other sports.

“We have the athletes on campus. It’s just a matter of getting them out

here.”

The lack of depth, including zero varsity hurdlers, cost the Eagles, as

the Artists earned a 65-56 victory.

Estancia (0-3, 0-2 in league) could have salvaged the victory by winning

the 1,600 relay, but Laguna Beach went out fast and was never challenged.

Chandler, on the other hand, could challenge the league’s elite in his

events, about which he is learning daily.

“I feel most natural in the triple jump,” said Chandler, whose aptitude

is atypical, since most consider the triple jump the most technically

difficult to master.

“His feet just seem to do the right thing in the triple jump,” said

Lakey, who believes Chandler’s best potential is in the high jump.

Estancia freshman Humberto Rojas won the 1,600 meters (4:36.29) and was

second in the 3,200 (10:10.5).

Seniors Josh Veach (discus throw) and Luis Segoviano (200) also earned

first-place points for the Eagles, who got a pair of second-place efforts

from Marshall Hendricks (long and triple jump).

Sophomore Rolando Vivar was second in the 100 and third in the 200, while

sophomore Mike Casillas was second in the 1,600 and third in the 3,200.

Rojas nearly overcame a 15-yard deficit in the final 100 of the 3,200,

but Laguna junior Matt Zuckert held him off by four-tenths of a second.

In the same race, Casillas made a successful charge down the stretch to

pass an Artist and claim third.