Hickory Ridge senior wins state title, looks ahead

Jordan Warren has always known that he had great jumping ability.

From neighborhood basketball games as a kid to the football field, where he plays wide receiver for Hickory Ridge, Warren has used his “ups” to his advantage.

But it wasn’t until his freshman track season that he finally figured out jumping might be his best talent.

“I remember I wanted to be a sprinter at first, like everyone else,” said Warren, a senior. “But I quickly found out that jumping was my thing, and I really enjoyed everything that went into it. I had a lot to learn; but any time you have a passion for something, it’s easy to commit yourself to it.”

Hickory Ridge track and field coach Doc Wells has seen Warren’s progression.

“Jordan has really made tremendous strides as a jumper,” he said. “Physically, he is really a specimen – and he is also a great overall athlete. When you combine all that with his strong work ethic, I’m not surprised at the results.”

Warren’s commitment over the past four years paid off with a 1A/2A/3A indoor state title in the triple jump earlier this month. He was also state runner-up in the high jump.

Warren had a career-best 47-feet, two-inches triple jump in his final attempt to clinch the state championship.

“I had a lot of confidence going into the state meet,” Warren said. “But when you can come up with a personal-best jump with the state championship on the line, that is just an awesome feeling.”

Warren’s championship day didn’t come without a lot of hard work and near misses.

After a solid freshman year, Warren had a breakout season as a sophomore – regularly jumping over 45 feet – before hitting 47 feet for the first time in a meet at Mount Pleasant.

But shortly after that jump, Wells said that Warren fell into a slump and didn’t show a lot improvement.

Warren finished his sophomore season on a high note, being South Piedmont Conference runner-up and winning the 3A Midwest regional triple jump title. He went on to jump 45-8 to finish as the 3A state runner-up.

But despite the strong finish, he knew he had to work on improving. Warren said he had to work on everything from his fundamentals – like his approach, steps and landing – to his core strength, which he says is the key to being a greater jumper.

“I don’t think many people understand how strong you need to be, especially in your core, to be a good jumper,” Warren said. “I have had to work very hard to get my whole body stronger. That has helped me as much as anything.”

Warren carried that momentum into his junior season, where he not only looked more focused but also added the high and long jumps to his repertoire.

Warren started his junior postseason strong, winning the SPC title in both the triple and high jumps, while finishing third in the long jump and fifth in the 200-meter dash.

Warren followed that up with another performance to remember, winning both the triple (45-4.5) and high jump (6-4) at the 3A Midwest Regional.

While the state meet was somewhat of a disappointment –he finished fourth in the triple jump and 11th in the high jump – Warren quickly erased any bad feelings when he had an unofficial 49-foot jump in the triple jump at the N.C. Meet of Champions the following week.

“When I jumped that 49, I knew I was for real – that I could do it,” Warren said. “I want to start getting in the 49-50 range on a regular basis.”

A major reason Warren would like to do that is that it will catch the full attention of college recruiters.

Warren has gotten interest from schools like Miami (Fla.), High Point, UNC Wilmington and Western Carolina.

He hopes a big outdoor season will help him get even more opportunities.

Warren wants the season to help him finish his track and field career at Hickory Ridge with another championship.

“That feeling of winning a state championship is addictive,” Warren said. “I think once you get one, you want to have again and again.”