One giant leap for Harper
Nick Herron didn't exactly jump at the chance to compete in track and field at Harper College.
Herron initially planned to join the team after claiming a ninth-place medal at the 2006 Class AA IHSA state meet in the high jump as a Fremd senior.
Then he changed his mind.
"I thought my body had enough," Herron said. "I was in pain and I didn't think I could do it, balance school and have a full-time job."
Then practice started and Herron realized he missed competing. He returned and ended up winning the NJCAA Division III national title by clearing 6-foot-7 and helping Harper claim its first national crown.
"After I won nationals (coach Renee Zellner) said, 'And to think you weren't going to come out for track,'" Herron said with a laugh. "I said, 'Yeah, it would have been a stupid decision.'"
Zellner said Herron's intelligence toward the event is a critical reason he's poised to repeat at this weekend's national meet in Delhi, N.Y.
Herron cleared 6-7 much earlier this season and has been more consistent.
"What he's good at is he can really feel what he's doing and correct it and fix it," Zellner said. "He's a very talented young man."
Herron worked on his core strength even though school, work and bad shin splints in his legs limit his ability to train. He was also hampered this season by an ankle injury but said he feels "awesome" going into the national meet.
And he's come close to clearing 6-10 this spring -- clipping the bar with his heels at the height in pursuit of breaking the Harper record of 6-9.
"That's very realistic," Herron said. "If I get my steps, maybe I could get the national record (6-10ΒΌ)."
That could also lead to continuing his career at the Division I school.
Zellner said Herron would definitely be a big catch for a Division III program, but he also needs the right fit to study sports management and stay fairly close to home.
But right now Herron is concentrating on the moment he's eagerly awaited.
"It's been killing me since the offseason for this day to come back around," Herron said. "I'm totally excited to go back."
Or back-to-back in Herron's case.