COLUMBUS Woods leaps to state crown, gives Beavers lead

The Beaver Local senior outlasted Patrick Kenny to win with a 6-10 jump.
By KURT SNYDER
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
COLUMBUS -- The storybook ending to the high school career of Beaver Local high jumper Pat Woods was perfect except for one thing.
Bay Village's Patrick Kenny kept leaping over the bar. Kenny achieved his regional height of 6'4" and kept right on going.
Kenny matched Woods jump for jump in the Division II high jump Friday at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium.
"I was real surprised," Woods said of Kenny. "I think his personal best before was 6'5" or 6'4". He picked a good day to [achieve his personal record.]"
Finally, Woods shook free of his competition when he leaped over 6'10" on his third and final jump at the height.
Second last year
When Kenny could not clear the bar, Woods had his state title. He came in second with a jump of 6'7" last year.
Woods' championship helped Beaver Local to first place in the Div. II standings after the first day.
With 20 points, Beaver Local leads second-place Painesville Harvey by 51/2 points.
"It was a little nerve-wracking," Woods said of the one-on-one battle. "It will make you sweat, but it pushed me though. It was good competition."
The bar was then pushed to 7'0" where Woods had an opportunity to go for a state record, but he grazed the bar and bumped it off each time.
"It would have been nice if I did it, but just going with first place is good enough," Woods said.
Good preparation
Woods first qualified for the state meet during his sophomore year, but did not place. He said that experience along with finishing second last year prepared him for the meet and everything that surrounds it.
"Even when I was a sophomore going to state, that was a great experience," Woods said. "When I was a sophomore, I was real nervous and kind of scared and didn't jump real well. Last year, I relaxed and felt more confident."
Beaver Local teammate junior Daniel Kinsey finished fourth in the discus with a throw of 157-7. Avon sophomore Brandon Krystowski won the title with a throw of 159-11.
Opportunity slipped away
Kinsey said he felt like an opportunity at the title slipped away.
"I don't know what happened," Kinsey said. "I probably psyched myself out a little bit. In the qualifier I felt all right -- like I was going to get one in the finals because I felt good. But I couldn't put it together."
Beaver Local senior Matt Vujaklya finished fourth in the long jump with a leap of 21-101/2 to round out the team's scoring.
Kinsey will be Beaver Local's only competitor today when he competes in the finals of the 110-meter hurdles.
ksnyder@vindy.com