Jan. 31, 2005

Track season is here once again!

With a new season comes new dreams, and there will be one senior high jumper with some lofty goals heading into the 2005 track season.

Marlin Manley (Hampton, VA/Bethel H.S.) is expected to be one of the team leaders this season in his last go-around with the Broncs. The experienced high jumper entered this season with hopes of breaking some records and accomplished his first goal at the Houston Indoor Classic (Jan. 28) when he cleared 6-9.75 to become the new indoor record holder. The previous record was held by Kenneth McClain, who jumped 6-8 back in 1994.

Since his arrival, Manley has made a significant impact at UTPA. During his freshman campaign, the UTPA high jumper claimed his first individual championship at the UTSA-Whataburger Relays with a leap of 6-6. He also recorded a second-place finish at the Angela Proctor Classic hosted by UTPA with a jump of 6-6 during the outdoor season and finished fourth at the Houston Indoor Classic during the indoor season.

In his sophomore year, Manley compiled five second-place finishes, including a leap of 6-10.75 at the Texas Relays in Austin, TX, which was the second highest jump in program history.

Last season, Manley again had a jump of 6-10.75 at the Tom Tellez Invitational, just off the top mark of 7-0.75 set by Jon Gaston in 1994. He also earned an invitation to the NCAA Division I Midwest Regional Championships at Texas A&M in College Station, TX. During the outdoor season, Manley finished first at both the Bayou Classic and Border Olympics with marks of 6-8.75 and 6-8, respectively.

The Broncs' senior also finished second at the UTSA-Whataburger Relays during the outdoor season and wrapped up the indoor season with a fourth-place finish at the Houston / RunSport All-Comers Meet with a leap of 6-6.

Manley has racked up six of the school's top 10 all-time jumps, despite the fact that when he started he didn't really understand the science behind being a high jumper.

"I'm more or less like a raw jumper so a lot of it was off of natural ability and power," said Manley.

This season, expectations and goals are high for Manley, but the pressure is something that doesn't faze him. Some of his goals include jumping 6-11 in the indoor season and 7-1 during the outdoor campaign. Although the goals he has set for himself are high, literally, he feels they are attainable.

"The record is right in front of me. I want to grab that record because it's a ridiculous height that I've cleared thousands of times, but for some reason, I haven't been able to clear it during the season," Manley stated.

The cool, calm and confident Manley feels this season is one where he will give everything he has left because it will be his last as a collegiate jumper. He hopes hard work and experience will make this his best season ever; he plans to leave everything out on the track.

"I've trained a lot harder in the off-season, and I'm actually a lot stronger this season. When it's your last go-around, you tend to put more into it," concluded Manley.

The goals that Manley has set for himself are only as high as the bar that he jumps. However - when it's all said and done, Manley will be looked at as one of the best jumpers in UTPA track and field history.

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