Prep track and field notebook: Post Falls’ Tyler Trengove inspired by high jump legend

To be a successful high jumper, Tyler Trengove has learned how to flop.

The Fosbury Flop, to be specific.

Trengove, a junior at Post Falls High School, went to a camp last summer featuring Dick Fosbury, the man recognized as having revolutionized the high jump technique. Fosbury was a gold medalist at the 1968 Olympics.

The technique is a back-first vault, calling for the jumper to sprint diagonally toward the bar, then curve before leaping backward over the bar.

The difference the technique has made for Trengove is measurable. His career best through last spring was 6-foot-2. He broke Post Falls’ school record by 2 1/2 inches in a season-opening meet in early March when he did 6-8 1/2.

“It definitely came from Dick Fosbury’s camp,” Trengove said. “He’s been my inspiration.”

Trengove has Fosbury’s autograph on his left jumping shoe.

Trengove will be looking to pull off a trifecta in the jumps when the Idaho State 5A meet unfolds Friday and concludes Saturday at Dona Larsen Park in Boise.

“He’s a once-in-a-decade jumper,” Post Falls coach Wade Quesnell said.

Trengove is ranked No. 1 in the state in high jump, second in long jump and third in triple jump.

“The extra little pointers that Dick gave me have been helping out in all my jumps,” Trengove said.

Trengove has his sights set on finishing well this week. Last year, he took sixth in the high jump, seventh in the long jump and finished last out of 16 entrants in the triple jump.

After hitting 6-8 1/2, Trengove had three tries at 6-10.

“My jumps were really close, but I couldn’t get my legs over. My legs knocked the bar over every time,” he said.

This late in the season, an athlete who does all three jumps can be leg weary. Quesnell said Trengove has done a good job of limiting his jumps at meets. Trengove plans to rest leading up to state.

“I definitely do better at the bigger meets,” Trengove said.

He broke the school record in the long jump when leaped 22-7 1/4.

The last record he’s chasing is the triple jump (45-6). He vaulted a personal-best 44-5 at regionals last week.

“His three jumps in the finals were all around 44,” Quesnell said. “His technique has gotten a lot better. Out of the three jumps, his biggest improvement lately has been in the triple.”

Trengove plans to return to Fosbury’s camp this summer. He has set big goals for next year. He wants to do 7-1 in the high, hit 24 in the long and reach 46 in the triple.

“He doesn’t have to improve much to be a pretty elite jumper, for sure,” Quesnell said. “I knew he always had the talent. The maturity all came together.”

All Idaho state meets are Friday and Saturday. The 4A meet will be held in conjunction with the 5A meet. The 3A, 2A and 1A meets will be at Middleton High School.

Several North Idaho athletes could fare well. Melody Kempton of Post Falls, who is headed to play basketball at Gonzaga, is seeking a fourth consecutive title in the high jump.

Emily Hernandez of Lake City hopes to repeat in the shot put.

Others looking for titles are: Nate Burch of Coeur d’Alene (110 hurdles); Klaire Mitchell of LC (100 and 300 hurdles); Keara Simpson of LC (discus); Matt Ward of CdA (discus); T.J. Davis of Sandpoint (110 and 300 hurdles); Hannah Davidson of Sandpoint (800 and 1,600); Jacob Hammerberg of Kellogg (shot); Nikolous Bertling of Bonners Ferry (pole vault); Chase Gardom of Timberlake (triple jump); Abigail Peightal of Timberlake (1,600 and 3,200); Victoria Rae of BF (shot and discus); and Sara Hathaway of Clark Fork (high jump and 100 hurdles).

Honor roll

Here are the top times/marks from last week:

Boys: Spencer Barrera, Mt. Spokane (long jump, 22-1 1/4; 400 meter, 49.02); Tony Pizzillo, Shadle Park (400, 48.00); Will Grassel, Central Valley (800, 1:56.25); Grant Hannan, CV (300 hurdles, 39.63); Preston O’Neil, Ferris (800, 1:56.84); Christopher Homen, Ferris (300h, 39.70); Will Lane, Northwest Christian (110 hurdles, 15.73); Mitchell Ward, St. George’s (200, 22.97); Chris Humphreys, CdA (1,600, 4:23.18); Tyler Trengove, Post Falls (triple jump, 44-5).

Girls: Alvanique Smith, Mead (400, 58.30); Katie Thronson, Lewis and Clark (800, 2:15.53; 1,600, 4:59.28); Rylee Felgenhauer, CV (300h, 47.63); Maya Lebar, LC (400, 58.53; tj, 36-8); Kassidy Keller, CV (300h, 47.86); Katie Ward, Mead (tj, 36-3 1/4); Hailey Christopher, CV (hj, 5-6 1/2); Alsatta Bakana, Cheney (400, 57.94); Ashley Sande, St. George’s (100, 12.49; 200, 25.71; 400, 57.70); Jillian Mael, Lakeland (200, 25.94); Klaire Mitchell, Lake City (300h, 45.01); Emily Hernandez, Lake City (shot put, 41-9); Arlaina Stephenson, Lake City (triple jump 34-8 1/2).