Friday night at the Charlie Foster Classic, senior Clayton Kelly raised his hands in the air and started a slow clap as fans and athletes joined in. Then he raced down the track for his third attempt in the triple jump. While the goal was to top the program record of 50 feet, 1.25 inches set by Marty Molina in 2010, Kelly’s jump of 49’ 10” was enough to win the event and move up to eighth nationally.
The moment mirrored a memory of Kelly’s from two years ago, in Cushing Coliseum, when he jumped for a new personal record at that time of 47’ 0.25.”
“I just remember getting that PR and (getting) up,” Kelly said. “I was looking for my jumps coach, JR (Blackwood), and I was like, ‘Where is he?’, and I just heard him screaming. He’s running across the track, just his hands are on his head, and he’s like screaming (with) excitement.”
Kelly didn’t get into track and field until his junior year of high school at Gretna H.S. He grew up going to the College World Series, which is held annually in downtown Omaha. Baseball was Kelly’s sport until he lost his love for the game a little bit his freshman year of high school.
Originally intending on giving track and field a chance his sophomore year, COVID-19 erased the season, but Kelly proceeded to jump throughout the remainder of his high school career.
“I didn’t know for sure if I wanted to do track yet (in college),” Kelly said. “But the more I was jumping, the more I was enjoying it and getting PRs, there’s no better feeling. I mean, that feeling is so addictive.”
Kelly contacted UNK track and field coach Brady Bonsall and received a walk-on offer.
“I remember coming in here as a freshman,” Kelly said. “I just had no idea about anything. I just came in, we had our upperclassmen and they kind of showed me the ropes. I watched a lot of people from my freshman class actually quit.”
After finishing eighth in the triple jump at the MIAA outdoor meet that spring, Kelly received a small scholarship as he entered his sophomore season. After continuing to dedicate himself to improving, Kelly was given a boost in scholarship heading into his junior year.
“When you’re doing a sport where it’s just you and yourself, there’s no team; self-confidence is a huge thing,” Kelly said. “Because if you lack confidence, then you’re not going to believe in yourself to go out and get the best jump.”
J.R. Blackwood, UNK assistant track coach, said Kelly’s growth is in part due to his mindset.
“(Kelly’s) always been a positive guy,” Blackwood said. “You know, there is never – even when, you know, he’s injured or things aren’t going well, he’s always held his head high.”
During Kelly’s junior season, he dealt with a partial hamstring tear that left him sidelined for roughly a month.
“I just remember those four weeks being like the worst weeks ever, just not being able to travel,” Kelly said. “Then we had a home meet and (had) to watch all my teammates go out there. I was obviously happy for them, but that’s one of the hardest things I’ve gone through mentally, just knowing that you can be out there and just not being able to because of being injured.”
As Kelly probably starts a few more slow claps at the triple jump pit this winter, one thing is clear: he is going to stride for a few more inches.
“(Kelly’s) always ready for the next challenge,” Blackwood said. “I think that’s why he’s so good. You know, he’s always challenging even jumpers from the past, like his teammates. He’s always challenging freshmen. So I think that’s part of why he’s going to be so good.”
