Record-Setting Debut at Doane for Dakarai Hightower

Published by DyeStat.com   Jan 10th, 11:16pm
Hightower continues to raise the bar

After representing Lane Community College at U.S. Olympic Trials, he ties NAIA all-time indoor high jump mark, breaks Doane record in opener. By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor
 

Dakarai Hightower was one of the most underrated success stories at the U.S. Olympic Trials, tying for sixth in the men’s high jump final as the only two-year college athlete competing against four-year college standouts and professionals.

The former Curtis High (Washington) and Lane Community College (Oregon) star wasted no time Saturday making an impact in his debut at Doane University in Nebraska.

Hightower cleared 7 feet, 4.25 inches (2.24m) at the Ward Haylett Invitational, tying the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics indoor record set by Cal Baptist’s Jason Howard in 1998.  RESULTS

Hightower also eclipsed the 1985 indoor program record of 7-0.25 (2.14m) established by Steve Derr.

Although Hightower only cleared 7-3 (2.21m) at the Olympic Trials, he set the Northwest Athletic Conference outdoor record in May by clearing 7-5 (2.26m) and finished tied for the No. 7 American performer last year.

Hightower and Iowa Central’s Jah-Nhai Perinchief, who competes for Bermuda and recently signed with Arkansas, shared the two-year college outdoor lead and tied for second in the country among all collegiate high jumpers. They were the first two-year college jumpers since 2012 to clear 7-5 outdoors.

Hightower briefly held the indoor collegiate lead Saturday until Florida freshman Clayton Brown, who competes for Jamaica, cleared 7-4.5 (2.25m) at the Clemson Orange and Purple Classic. Their marks are the top two indoor performances in the world this year, not including a pair of athletes under suspension by the All-Russia Athletic Federation.