FALL 2011 - Lake Erie College

Jamil Dudley achieves
high jump success by Jason Tirotta
Sports NEWS
At six-foot, seven-inches tall, Jamil
Dudley is easily noticed both around
campus and around the track.
And while he tries to keep a low
profile, often sitting quietly with his
headphones on as he mentally focuses
on his next attempt, his performance
in the high jump has made it virtually
impossible for people not to take
notice. Plus, it’s very difficult to keep
a low profile when you’re a 19-year old
with a national championship
gold medal.
Dudley capped arguably one of the
most impressive first-year seasons in
the country as a Lake Erie freshman in
2010-11 in June when he won the high
jump at the United States Track and
Field Junior National Championships,
earning him the distinction as the
country’s top jumper under the
age of 20.
“It was an incredible experience, being
out there on that podium with tens of
thousands of people there,” Dudley
said of the award ceremony following
his victory. “I was trying to hold my
emotions in, to act like I’ve been in that
situation before. But it was hard, I was
really happy. I was smiling ear-to-ear.”
He won the event by clearing 7’-2 ½” and
besting a talented field that included
Penn’s Maliik Reynolds, a senior event
qualifier, Auburn’s D.J. Smith, an
All-SEC performer, and several other
jumpers from colleges and universities
at the Division I level.
“Being in that type of meet, where you
aren‘t worried about scoring points for
your team, it was more relaxing than
at any other point during the season,”
Dudley said. “I wanted to do well,
but wasn’t stressed or worried about
how I’d do when I went there, taking a
‘whatever happens, happens’ attitude
with me. But when I got close towards
the end and had a chance to win, my
competitiveness kicked in and I wanted
to go after it.”
The gold medal at the Junior Nationals
in Eugene, Oregon was the culmination
for an exciting year for Dudley.
Continued on next page
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