Crowley's Guidry claims state high jump crown

BATON ROUGE – Crowley High’s Damon Guidry put the finishing touches on his 2015 indoor track season Saturday by claiming the LHSAA state title with a leap of 6-4 at LSU’s Maddox Field House.
The 5-foot-8 junior tied with three other jumpers with marks of 6-4 but won the title on jumps after clearing the mark on his first attempt.
“He jumped 6-4 for the third time this year indoors so that was pretty good,” said CHS coach Jeptha Wall of Guidry, who just missed on his attempts at 6-6. “It’s just a timing deal, but it’s early in the year and nobody really jumps that well indoors.”
The victory is a big moral boost and Wall is hoping that it carries over into the outdoor season which begins in two short weeks.
“Just to have that under your wing, that you are a state champion, is big and gives him the confidence knowing that it is possible for him in the outdoor season,” said Wall.
Guidry’s top mark was established in the 2014 outdoor season when he cleared 6-8 at the Welsh Grey Hound Relays.
His goals, however, are much loftier than that.
“Damon’s goal is to tie or break the Crowley High School record at 6-10,” said Wall. “Being a state champion (outdoor) is another goal and I think both (goals) are attainable. He’s starting to mature a little bit more and it is possible for him to jump 7-0 somewhere in the future.”
In other state meet action, Crowley High sophomore Darrid Romero cleared 11-0 in the pole vault while sophomore SJalasia Hebert ran a 9.99 in the 60-meter hurdles but failed to qualify for the finals. Brooklyn Johnson also qualified for the state meet in the pole vault and the junior cleared 7-0 but didn’t place.
Crowley’s outdoor season begins March 6 when the Gents participate in a practice meet at Eunice High School.