Josh Paul breaks Cedarville’s 20-year standing triple jump record

By Danielle Cherry

Freshman Josh Paul takes a breath, steeling himself for his third jump of the National Christian College Athletic Association track meet on February 7. Nervous but confident, he begins his approach. A bounding leap, followed by a lengthening step, finishing with a jump into the pit, Paul breaks the longstanding Cedarville record held since 2005 by mere inches. 

“When I broke it the first time, I wasn’t really thinking about it. I was just like, we got three more jumps to do, let’s just keep going,” Paul said.  

Encouraged by his teammates, Paul attacked his final jump with the intention of breaking his third jump record. A slow clap breaks out among the crowd, increasing in excitement and pace as Paul runs toward the pit. Not once, but twice, Paul breaks the record, totaling 7 ½ inches more than the 2005 record. 

“I wasn’t like jumping out of the gym or anything, but it was just finally doing what my goal was and finally getting the thing that I was trying to get this whole season,” Paul said. “I was really satisfied with my performance. I felt that I went out there and did my best, and at the end of the day, that’s really all we’re supposed to do.”

The meet fell at a poor time for Paul, having only just recovered from a knee injury. The week leading up to the meet, he did no training, only recovery. Paul realized how even small things can result in tremendous outcomes. 

“During that week, the little things were most important, like drinking enough water, eating, and sleeping,” Paul said. “I didn’t realize that until this year when I didn’t get that much sleep and realized how it affected me.” 

Paul began his journey to track and field ironically through basketball. Growing up in a family of basketball players, Paul assumed he would follow suit. But during his freshman year of high school, he changed course and was forced into playing football. Due to an injury, Paul was sidelined from the season, and this setback opened up a window into track and field. 

“I started track sophomore year,” Paul said. “I was horrible at it, as anyone is when they started out with something, but my junior year, I got pretty good at it, and then senior year was kind of the year that I kind of started to figure things out.”

From the beginning, Paul was a jumper, dipping his toes in every kind: long jump and high jump before landing on triple jump. When he first started, learning the extended footwork for the triple jump was difficult because it differs from long jump form. He was also simultaneously training to handle the pressure exerted on the legs. 

“One of my first jumps that I have on video I didn’t even make it into the pit, which sucks on the legs and also is very embarrassing,” Paul said. “Triple jump is one of those things where you only get good at it when you keep doing it over and over again.”

Over the years, Paul has honed in on his craft, being the only triple jumper on the Cedarville team. Despite being an individual competition, track is more team-oriented than most think. The banter between teammates spurs the group forward, pushing everyone to work harder and fight. 

“It’s a constant iron sharpens iron thing, and we’re pushing each other to be better,” Paul said. “That is what healthy competition is.” 

Breaking the record shines a light on Paul’s ability, giving him more opportunities to engage in higher competition and more time with the coaches. After completing this goal, Paul looks to make it to nationals, where he must reach 14.49 meters to qualify. 

“With it being my first year and breaking the school record, it gives me a lot of hope for the future down the road and the rest of these three years,” Paul said. 

Danielle Cherry is a freshman Communications major and writer for Cedars A&E and Sports. She is a Missionary Kid from Germany and loves a good cup of coffee.  

Photo provided by Cedarville Athletics and taken by Logan Howard