LEGGETT — North Edgecombe High School’s LaTraviun Parker walked away “upset” last year after finishing in fifth place in the long jump during the 2023 North Carolina High School Athletic Association Class 1A championship meet in Greensboro.
But despite the disappointment of not winning it last year, Parker came back this year and worked so he wouldn’t experience that feeling again.
The feeling this year was total joy.
Parker, 18, won the Class 1A state long jump title last week at North Carolina A&T State University. His distance of 21 feet, 05.25 inches eclipsed last year’s jump of 20-02.50.
‘I wasn’t that far off last year,” said Parker. “I walked away upset but this year, I was rooting for myself and thought I could win states. I was going to give it my all.”
Competitors get six jumps — three in the preliminary round and three in the finals.
His first three jumps were all in the 20s, which qualified him for the finals.
“During each of my first three jumps, I saw how people were jumping and I thought it would be easy, that I had it,” Parker said. “When my last three jumps came, I was giving it my all and jumped (21-05.25) on my first one and won it right there.”
What was the feeling like when Parker got to stand on the top step of the medal podium and receive his state championship medal?
“I was so happy, man,” he said. “I told people right away I was doing it for them.”
Parker has been a standout athlete all four years at North Edgecombe, with his primary sports being basketball and football.
He started track during his sophomore year. He competed in the 100- and 200-meter dashes and long jump. He attempted the triple jump but didn’t like it because “it had too many jumps.”
“I had an altercation with my track coach and was taken off the team,” he said. “But I had a love for the sport, and some fellow classmates wanted me to come back; they told me I could go far in it. My junior year came, I got back on the team and made the states. And this year, my senior year, I became number one in the state.”
As a senior, Parker said his goals were to become a state champion and to be better in the long jump than the year before.
“I wanted to make a name for myself,” he said. “Long jump became my favorite once I made it to regionals my first time my junior year.”
Every competitor has a different way of approaching their jumps. What is a successful jump in Parker’s opinion?
“A successful jump is when you take your time and you’re not over-stimulated,” he said. “Calm down, get your three rocks (rocking back and forth), take off and count your steps and get in the air.”
Parker further explained his approach.
“What I do on my jumps is, I take 14 steps and when I do that, I am on the board (line) every time,” he said.
So what makes a bad jump?
“I have my days when I’ve had bad jumps,” he said. “I jump off the wrong foot (his left), but even when I jump off the wrong foot, I am still in the 20s.”
Parker considers it an honor to join Ahkee Lyons (last year’s triple jump champion) in the exclusive club of state champions from North Edgecombe.
“It’s a big accomplishment for this school to have people do this, to have people like me and Ahkee go back to back,” he said. “Hopefully it brings good attention to the school and the track program.”
Parker has already made plans after graduating from North Edgecombe. He will be playing basketball at Bryant & Stratton College, a National Junior College Athletic Association Division II program in Virginia Beach, Va.
Is running track a possibility after basketball season is over?
“Of course. I would love to continue my track career,” he said. “I love it.”
What does it take to be successful in track?
“I think it takes dedication. You have to come out and work hard,” Parker said. “If you grind, you can be a state champion.”
Parker said the feeling of being a state champion hit him after the medal ceremony.
“It was on the bus with my coaches,” he said. “I was telling them, ‘Man, that was crazy. I just won a state championship.’”
If he were to advise younger student-athletes who aspire to play sports in college, what would Parker say to them?
“It takes a lot of work. Stay focused, work hard and listen to your coaches and concentrate on the little details,” he said. “Stay in class and listen to your teachers; don’t be running around.”
It still boggles Parker’s mind, even a week later, that he accomplished his goal, and added that he appreciated his time at North Edgecombe.
“I have had a great time here,” he said. “I’ve had my ups and downs but I had fun, and overall, it is a great school.”
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