Day wins at Pan Am

Knowledge of Sharon Day’s prowess in the high jump is quickly gaining

attention on an international scale.

The Costa Mesa High graduate, who holds the Orange County and CIF

Southern Section record in the event -- 6 feet, 2 inches -- added to

her impressive resume with a leap of 6-0 3/4 to defeat an

international field Friday in the Pan American junior championships

at Bridgetown, Barbados.

Day, 18, attempted three leaps at 6-3, but missed, Eugene Day, her

father and coach, said Friday night after he received a call from his

daughter earlier that evening.

She qualified for the three-day Pan American championships after

finishing second in the high jump (5-10) at the USA outdoor track and

field championships June 21.

Day cleared 5-11 3/4 at last weekend’s Mid-Summer Games at Mount

San Antonio College.

“I told her [after her leap last weekend], ‘You are ready,’ ”

Eugene Day said.

The two-time state champion in the high jump will return from

Barbados on Monday and then head to San Diego to train with the U.S.

team until she reports to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo for a soccer camp

Aug. 12.

Day will compete in soccer and track for the Mustangs beginning in

the fall.