Powell heads to nationals

It took three years, but Clarence Powell finally achieved his goal.

The former Cottondale High School and current Liberty University track star will head to nationals after a qualifying performance at the NCAA Division I Preliminary Round meet Saturday in Greensboro, N.C.

Powell will travel to Eugene, Ore., for the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships on June 9-12, thanks to a personal record triple jump of 52 feet, 1 1/4 inches.

A top 12 finish was needed to make it to nationals; Powell’s final jump placed him fifth overall.

He wasn’t expecting to qualify in the triple jump, and was “shocked” by the result.

“I was praying from the time I was there that something good would happen, and it happened on my last jump,” Powell said.

After scratching on his first two jumps, he needed a mark of 50 feet, 9 inches to finish 14th in the preliminary round.

A top 16 finish in the preliminaries was needed to make it to the final round.

He then scratched on his first jump in the finals, but his mark of 51 feet, 7 inches put him into seventh place.

Powell then cleared 52 feet for the first time on his final jump of the day.

“It’s unexplainable,” he said. “I came up short my freshman year by just one spot, then I got hurt my sophomore year. Now, to finally make it to nationals is just awesome.”

After a brilliant freshmen season, Powell was bothered by a nagging leg injury in his sophomore campaign that didn’t allow him to compete at 100 percent.

But he rebounded with a stellar junior season, in which he was named Big South Track Athlete of the Year for 2009-10.

Making it to nationals simply provided the cherry on top for the Marianna native.

“It felt great being that this year I worked so hard, watching my body and making sure that I didn’t put myself in situations to get myself hurt,” Powell said. “It feels great knowing what I went through and where I’m at now.”

Powell also nearly qualified in the long jump, coming up two inches short of the necessary mark with 24 feet, 7 inches.

After a disappointing finish in Friday’s high jump competition, and only the triple jump to go, Powell saw his chances of making it to nationals start to disappear.

“I really didn’t think I would get in, so I just came in with the mindset of just having fun and giving it all that I’ve got,” he said. “At the time, coming up short two inches (in the long jump) was disappointing, but my coach told me that maybe God had something in store for me later.

“After going through three days of jumping, I never thought I would make it in. But making it overruled any disappointment I had before.”

Powell took Monday and Tuesday off from practicing, but he’ll get back to work preparing for Eugene starting today.

With the top triple-jumpers posting consistent marks of 55 feet or better, Powell said the odds of winning the championship may be long.

However, he has another goal in mind.

“This year, my goal is to become an All-American,” Powell said, noting that a top eight finish is necessary for such an honor.

“Placing top eight would be very satisfying, then next year I’ll try to go for a national title.”

Powell said if the regional meet taught him anything, it’s that his best days are still in front of him.

“Just going by this weekend, it was shown that I have more in me,” he said. “Being that I did all three jumps and still ended up (setting a personal record) in the triple jump, that says a lot.

“In Oregon, I only have one jump to worry about, so I should be stronger. I feel very good about it. I think it should be another (personal record).”