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Summarized by Jennifer Livingston
LDS High Jumper Seeks Olympics
(Clinger Soars Toward Olympic Dream)
Salt Lake Tribune 6Apr00 S2
By Michael C. Lewis: Salt Lake Tribune
OGDEN, UTAH -- High jumper Charles Clinger is hoping to
realize his life-long dream of competing in the
Olympic games in Sydney this September. Clinger, a
6' 9" Weber State junior, is already well on his way.
Clearing a personal-best height of 7 feet 6 inches,
his recent performance in the Stanford Invitational
broke the Big Sky Conference record and ranked as the
best jump in the nation this season.
Since returning from his mission to Australia a few
years ago, Clinger has won several conference titles,
finished third at both the US Outdoor Championships as
well as the Pan-Am games in Canada, and finished
fourth in the NCAA Outdoor Championships. In order to
qualify for the Olympic team, Clinger must place in
the top three at the NCAA Outdoor Championships this
June, and then compete in the Olympic trials in
Sacramento in July. If he can consistently clear 7
feet 7inches, he stands an excellent chance of making
the team.
Clinger has set some challenging goals, hoping to be
the first American to clear 8 feet. Clearing 7 feet 6
inches in the middle of hard training is quite an
accomplishment, and he believes he can do much better
as he tapers his training before critical upcoming
meets. "We have some great goals in sight,"
commented Clinger, "but it's hard to tell other people because
they think you're crazy." Weber State coach Dan
Walker agrees that Clinger means business. "He has
some high expectations for himself and he wants to get
somewhere," commented Walker.
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