ALTHOUGH he had easily done it in practice, national high jumper Leonard Grospe apparently was stumped when he cleared 2.17 meters in actual competition.
Perhaps, having the coach who set that national mark 18 years ago, Sean Guevara, who continued to encourage the athlete that he was capable of such, may have had something to do with it.
But give athlete and coach credit for not giving up on their shared goals.
On a cool Wednesday night, when he still felt the lingering effects of a fever a week before, Grospe, who had been with the national team since 2020, came through with an inspired performance that finally was able to live up to Guevara’s expectations.
The 6-foot-1 beanpole broke the 18-year-old national standard in the men’s high jump not once but twice on his way to securing the gold medal with a jump of 2.20 meters on his first try at the Philsports track oval in Pasig.
Joy and relief were all over the face of Guevara, who set the old mark of 2.17 meters on April 5, 2005 during the National Open at the Rizal Memorial Stadium, when he saw that his protégé had proven to himself that he was an elite high jumper.
Grospe broke the old mark with a jump of 2.18 meters on his first attempt and decided to continue and raise the bar higher to see how far he could go.
With the gold firmly in the bag, the Mapua University varsity squad member tried twice but failed to clear 2.22 meters.
“Masayang-masaya ako kasi matagal na naming goal na-break ‘yung record ni coach Sean,” said Grospe, from Dilasag, Auroa, who was discovered by Guevarra while competing in the Central Luzon Regional Athletic Association meet in early 2019.
“Of course, I am very happy for Leonard since he was able to break my record. He was able to break the psychological barrier of 2.17 meters, which he had been clearing in practice. I always believed he had it in him to do 2:20,” said Guevara, beaming.
“Records are meant to be broken. So, feeling fulfilled talaga that he (Grospe) broke it. This is my legacy to the sport that has been very good to me.”
