No limits, says triple jumper Hibbert
Published:Tuesday | May 16, 2023 | 12:53 AMDaniel Wheeler/Staff Reporter
In a season where he continues to shatter records and expectations, world under-20 triple jump champion Jaydon Hibbert says that he is not putting any limits on what he can achieve this early in his career.
Hibbert took the Southeastern Conference Title last Saturday, with a world under-20 outdoor record effort of 17.87 metres erasing the 17.50 mark made by East Germany’s Volker Mai in 1985. It is a collegiate record and the best jump in the world this year.
In his first year at the University of Arkansas, he has already claimed the world under-20 indoor record with an effort of 17.54m.
Even by his standards, he is amazed by the rapid growth he has taken this season, something that he does not only attribute to his own hard work and perseverance.
“It’s all about trusting the process, God has shown me I am talented. I do put in the hard work but I have to put it all to God because I don’t think there is any 18-year-old that is doing the stuff that I do. But I am proud of myself. So proud of my coach for keeping patience with me and being a good person overall to me. With this mark, I am not going to put any limits on myself,” Hibbert told Arkansas Track and Field.
‘A special guy’
His performance also has him tied for 13th all-time with former Olympic and world champion Mike Conley who competed for Arkansas and commented on how far Hibbert has soared compared to him when he was competing.
“I got to meet him and talk to him and I watched him compete. He’s a way better jumper than I was technique-wise. It took me a lifetime to be able to look like he looked as a freshman. He is a special guy,” Conley said. “When I saw him at the juniors I was like wow. A lot of it is his natural ability. His form and technique to be advanced at it is he is just born to do it and he puts in the work on top of it. That is usually the recipe for greatness.”
While Hibbert is enjoying the magnitude of the moment, he said that it will not take him long to rest and refocus as he continues his march towards the World Championships.
“I am going to enjoy myself for one and then rest and refocus. I don’t know if I am going to peak until World Champs because I am not at my peak and I am close to 18m,” Hibbert said. “But I am going back to the drawing board to see what my coach ( Travis Geopfert) says and we will just have fun and take it from there.”