Photos by Heather Belcher
Charleston – Relaxed and reclined with his arms dangling against the metal bench in the waiting area, Owen Keeney was the odd man in a group of title hopefuls. While his peers and competitors stood and nervously paced, he was unfazed.
Minutes later he finally showed some emotion – that of joy, and rightfully so.
The Westside senior made the most of his first year high jumping, capturing the Class AA High Jump state championship Friday at Laidley Field in Charleston, clearing 6-06.00.
Keeney bested Region 3 foe Isaiah Miner in the final round, successfully clearing the height in his second attempt.
The height ties the personal and school record he set at Shady Spring in the regular season, topping the previous record set by former Renegade Daniel Reed who won the 2021 High Jump title.
“Daniel was always a great mentor for me,” Keeney said. “I watched him and always wanted to get into it but just never really had the time because I was always playing basketball and stuff but this year, my senior year, I was like, ‘At least it would give me something to do’ and I turned out to be better at it then I ever thought I would be.”
For Keeney the achievement isn’t one he dreamed of initially, but one he believed he could accomplish early in the season. In total he increased his jump by nine inches after learning the nuances of the event.
“Once I started getting in the 6-foot range I started to feel something good,” Keeney explained. “It was a feeling I never felt, like a real accomplishment and I felt good about it. It felt natural. Not a lot of people get it naturally but I was able to grasp onto it. My first meet of the year I knew nothing and I was jumping 5-foot-9. That’s all I got. To come out here and get 6-foot-6 is insane. I felt if I really worked at it I could be where I am today. I’m blessed truly.”
That confidence carried into Friday’s title meet where the even-keeled Keeney admitted he felt relaxed and free of the pressures that normally accommodate an event of that magnitude.
“I felt pretty good,” Keeney said. “I don’t usually tend to get nervous about much. I usually just – if it’s going to be, it’s going to be. It’s the good lord’s will.”
After securing the title, Keeney attempted to crack his PR with a jump of 6-foot-8 and nearly did so on his second try. Still, gold was more than enough.
“It’s the best feeling,” Keeney smiled. “It’s like nothing I’ve ever felt in my high school career, ever!”
Westside’s Owen Keeney wins the Class AA High Jump at 6’6, tying his PR once again. He’s a state champion. pic.twitter.com/eh3xoENRPl
— Tyler Jackson (@TJack94) May 19, 2023
Email: tylerjackson@lootpress.com and follow on Twitter @tjack94
