Your sophomore year you cleared 6' 7", last year you cleared 6' 6", and this season you're up to 6' 8". Have you been satisfied with the way you've progressed over your high school career?
Not really. My sophomore year I had cleared 6' 7" about three times and I had one unofficial clearance of 6' 8". Due to injuries, my junior year was basically an off year. So I believe that is what affected my performance that season.
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As I just mentioned, you cleared 6'6" last year, but only went up to 6'2" at the state meet. What can you say about what went on that day? Last year was an off year in which I really wasn't suppose to compete but I did anyway. I only jumped about four times the whole season due to back injuries from basketball. Honestly, I was surprised that I actually even jumped 6' 6" at all last season. About the 6' 2" jump at state, the tornado warning that was called during the middle of competition really threw me off. The long break caused my back to tighten up so I was basically finished after that. What kind of factors seem to influence how good of a day you'll have high jumping? What would be ideal conditions for you? |
 (photo: AlabamaRunners) |
The temperature is the biggest factor to me. I seem to jump higher in cooler/colder weather. The size of the mat is next factor for me. If the mat is small, I tend to have a fear of landing close to the edge or not even landing on the mat. That fear came from the Meet of Champs last year. My ideal conditions would be the competition taking place in the evening when the weather is cool on a large mondo apron with a large landing mat.
After the state meet, how did you prepare for this season during the summer & fall to come out and do so well (state champion) in indoor?
First I gave myself time to allow my injury to heal. So when the time was right I joined the USA Track and Field summer track program. This allowed me to practice as well as compete during the summer. When Fall came around I hit the weight room pretty hard. Since I decided not to play basketball my senior year this gave me time to focus on indoor track and field which I believe would help me in the following outdoor season.
How do you like jumping off the elevated wood platform in Priceville, versus the harder outdoor aprons?
Truthfully I do not like it. My approach was cut in half due to the surface.
After clearing 6' 6" at the Challenge of Champions, you declined your attempts at 6' 8". What was your reason for that?
I was having a bad day at that meet. I felt like I was forcing myself to jump instead of just jumping naturally and that's the main reason.
With the clearance you had at 6'6", how high do you think you could go on a good day at state?
On a good day I believe that I could go 6' 11" or higher.
At the Challenge of Champions, your mother was right there on the apron with you, wearing a USATF badge, taping your jumps, and commenting on the finer points of the
event. What is your mom's history in the sport of track & field? What can you say about the way she's influenced you both as an athlete and as a son?
My mom became involved in track and field when I started taking this sport seriously. She's been the most important influence to me in everything I do. My mom has showed and taught me to have confidence in myself because if you don't believe in yourself it's gonna be hard for anybody else believe in you.
Who have been the other influences on your career, both through direct interaction and as heroes or models of success?
Charles Austin: United States high jump record holder (7' 10.5")
Jonathan Webb of Minor looks to be your biggest competition at the 6A state meet. How would you compare the two of you as jumpers, both in terms of technique and ability? Do you consider him, or anyone else, a rival?
Jonathan's technique is completely different than mine; he's a power jumper while I'm a speed jumper. As far as ability, I feel that we are equal. Yes, I consider Jonathan as well as Tamarcus Milner (Opelika) rivals on the track, but off the track we are all friends which tends to be the case with a lot of people that I jump against.
Do you wish you got to face more competition outside the Auburn-Opelika area? Does better competition seem to affect your performance?
It's not who I face because I can't jump for them and they can not jump for me. The competition is the bar. I say that because the bar won't fall if I don't hit it.
In other sports or activities you've done even since childhood, how did your jumping ability tend to show up?
Basketball would be another sport that I would show my jumping ability, for example: I would always be jumping for some reason: trying to block shots, doing lay ups, dunking and so on.
You've already been getting scholarship offers. What factors will ultimately decide where you go to college?
The location, would I be able to have an impact on the team, coaching and team attitudes.
Living in a college town, do you think you have a good idea both of what you want in a college experience and what you can expect from it?
Living in a college town environment does not have an impact on what I expect and what I want in a college experience. I think that how I was brought up and the chance of meeting new people determines what I want and what I expect.
Any final thoughts?
Only one, I'm really looking forward to the state meet this year to see what happens.
So are we, Jamaal! Thanks for your time and best wishes on the rest of your season.
McClinton had room to spare over 6'6" at the Challenge of Champions in Mobile
on April 5, but declined attempts at 6'8". (photo: Robert Attical)
Javier Sotomayor: World high jump record holder (8' 0.5")