University Daily Kansan
Friday, April 18, 1980
9
Ankle slows jumper's big leap to stardom
By MATT SEELEY Sports Writer
Sports Writer
This is the story of an athlete students probably will not hear about again until next year's track season.
not hear about again until next year's track season. He is a standout on KU's highly touted and heavily
And within a few years, he just may be in a class of his own.
You see, Warren Wilhite stivores for perfection and consistency. Add a pinch of unlimited determination and a helping of self-confidence and the recipe is complete for Wilhite. Lone warm extraidrine.
Winner of two indoor meets and the Big Eight's leading freshman long jumper. Willinate appeared to be a star in 2014.
But, a not-so-fun thing happened on the way to the national long jump title.
FOR THE second time in a season, the Winslow,
Ariz., native broke his ankle. The second time proved
particularly costly, as Wilhite's outdoor season
ended before it ever began.
"On my first jump, I jumped 24 feet and had the lead after the first round," Wiloteh said. "Then on my second jump I planted my feet, slipped, and broke my ankle in the air before I landed.
"I was working on chopping down my step, but I knew the moment I went in the air it was broken."
The break spelled disaster for KU at nationals, not only in the long jump, but also in the mile relay. With Deon Hogan being sidelined with a leg injury, and the team having a derailed, having broken his ankle, all title fades faded.
The outdoor campaign picture also turned blurry.
"WITH THE great speed Warren have and all the success he's had in his freshman year," I.U coach Bob Timmons said, "he'd definitely be unning in some of our relays."
Instead, Wilhote finds himself ponder mg the past and forecasting the future.
The past is filled with memories of being Arizona's top 40 yard and high jump prespier. Yet, the past goes back further—to the days when Wihinote was not so successful.
"My first race was in sixth grade at a Kawansi's,
Wilhote said. "I think I finished second to la-
vena."
The first year of high school also proved to be the training ground for the success to come.
"The first day of practice, he stumbled through the holes," recalled high school coach Cramston Halesen.
WILHOFTE the hurdles were not of his own to Macchie's. The long jump, Wilhote insisted, was his event.
Or was it?
"We had trials for the team and I jumped 16-2." website said. "The coach looked at me and said, 'So you have to do this.'"
Wilhote said he had nothing but respect for his coach.
He "worked with me and we worked together," Wrote said. "He worked us all hard, but it paid off."
However, Wilhelm might not have gone out for track had it not been for a friend, Anthony Polk.
Polk, who calls Wiltshire his best friend, was Wilhelm's teammate at Winfield High and is now a star in the league.
"My first love was basketball," Wilcohee said. "But after me and Anthony talked, we decided to go out for track. It was a more individual sport and they couldn't deny you any recognition."
THE RECOGNITION Wilhote wanted came his junior and senior years of high school.
"He wasn't a particularly outstanding freshman," Hysong said. "But in his junior and senior year, he was the best of them."
"I during my junior year," Without said, "they said
"I were questionable. I knew I had the potential, but I
didn't."
In his senior year, Wilhoite did.
Not only a runaway victor in the 440-yard dash at the Arizona State Outdoor Championships, Wilhite topped the season with a career-best jump of $25.2\%$ at the International Prevail Invitation in Chicago.
By this time, college coaches across the nation had seen or read of Wollheim's exploits, and the reactions were varied.
"I think Warner chose KU because of the interest the coaches showed in him." Hysong said. "They showed him to be a human being and not a comedian, and they are more personable with Warren than the rest of the coaches."
AMONG THE schools seeking Wohlfeil's services were Arizona, Arizona State, Nebraska, Indiana and South Carolina.
"The majority of the schools didn't show much
interest," Wilhote said. "Arizona State was only willing to pay for a half-scholarship."
Wilhite, however, said the recruiters treated athletes as products.
“You’re like merchandise,” he said. “If you do good and what they expect of you, you’ll do all right.”
As far as Timmons is concerned, Wilhoite is one fine product.
"We are very pleased with his performances," Timmons said. "Warren has tremendous potential and he'll continue to go right on up. He's got all kinds of talent."
Wiithen's talent goes further than the track course. A journalism major with views of sports writing, writing about sports, and speaking at conferences.
**HACA overlap.** Will advise. It is a lot harder to worry him if he doesn't worry him. Will advise is one confident friend's best chance.
"I know what I can do and what I can't do." With what I don't, I don't want. I want to be the best and to succeed.
And where there's a will to work to win, there's Warren Wilhite.
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