DAILY PILOT HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETE OF THE WEEK:

Bill Sumner gave his high-flying act two days off. You can take it easy Blaine Bolus, coach gave you permission.

Maybe Bolus forgot or ignored what Sumner said before Thursday’s practice. Sumner said the second is so like Bolus.

In dark shades, blue shorts, blue shoes and a white jersey with a blue pattern across it, Bolus easily leaped over the bar on the high jump. From the other end of the track at Corona del Mar High, Sumner kept an eye on his jumper.

Any time you leave your feet, you’re in danger. Sumner knows Bolus is risking it all, running and jumping with a bad right hamstring. Bolus said he sort of has to in order to improve.

This is his senior season and Bolus is going all out no matter how he feels. The triple jump, high jump and long jump are his best events.

Bolus wants each of those school records at CdM before he leaves for Harvard. The one event he attempted to break again while at the Orange County Track and Field Championships last Saturday was his favorite, the triple jump.

The hamstring began to feel better, yet Bolus said he wasn’t ready to run so fast. The sprinting, before taking off for the sand pit, took a toll on his hamstring.

Bolus re-aggravated it by going too hard in defending the triple jump crown at Mission Viejo High. Sumner blamed it on Bolus’ goal of setting a school record, which he already owned.

Bolus won with a mark of 46 feet, 1 1/4 inches, six inches short of his personal best. He placed second in the high jump (6-2) and third in the long jump (21-10), an impressive day.

But knowing when to turn it on and off is what worries Sumner about Bolus.

The longtime coach has seen what Bolus’ reckless approach can cause. Major damage, ending his season at the CIF Southern Section Division III championships last season. Looking back, Sumner said Bolus had no business falling short of reaching the next two postseason events, the masters and the state finals.

A nagging right hamstring held Bolus back. He didn’t help his situation.

During the CIF Southern Section Division III preliminaries, Sumner said Bolus recorded the second longest triple jump. His hamstring began to tighten up, so Sumner told Bolus to stop competing.

“He wanted one more jump to get a PR. This is what he told me afterward,” Sumner said. “I’m turning around and I see him in the air, and he’s [got his right hand near his hamstring]. His hand is supposed to be out [in front]. That messed up CIF finals for him. That prevented him from going to state, so what we might have to do is remind him how that happened.”

Sumner probably won’t have to say much. Last season’s finish proved to be a disappointment.

Bolus waited for the opportunity to return to the postseason because of a CIF Southern Section transfer rule. He sat out the varsity season as a sophomore after transferring from Sage Hill School to CdM.

In his final year, Bolus has to deal with the same hamstring bothering him at the end of last season. He talks about “damage control,” how he’s going to take everything easy and get as far as he possibly can.

The first step for Bolus is the Pacific Coast League championships next week at Irvine High. He has led the CdM boys to a 5-0 record in league and they’re favorites to win the title.

Unless the hamstring acts up, Sumner said Bolus will move on to the next meet, the section preliminaries, and so forth.

“I think Blaine is a slam dunk to go to the state meet if we can keep him healthy,” Sumner said.

“[He’s] amazing because something will be hurting him and you’ll try to stop him, and he’ll hobble. Then you turn around and he’s over there jumping again. How do you stop the guy?”

You can’t, even on Bolus’ day off.

DAVID CARRILLO PEÑALOZA may be reached at (714) 966-4612 or at david.carrillo@latimes.com.