Ogunronbi saves best for last in winning indoor state title

EPHS junior claims long jump crown despite difficulties of dual-sport commitment

By Mike Rego
Posted 2/19/18

PROVIDENCE — It’s an oft-repeated cliche in sports, but in the case of East Providence High School track and field standout Clinton Ogunronbi it is an apt one.

Saturday, Feb. 17, in the 2018 …

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Ogunronbi saves best for last in winning indoor state title

EPHS junior claims long jump crown despite difficulties of dual-sport commitment

Posted

PROVIDENCE — It’s an oft-repeated cliche in sports, but in the case of East Providence High School track and field standout Clinton Ogunronbi it is an apt one.

Saturday, Feb. 17, in the 2018 State Indoor Championship Meet held at the Providence Career and Technical Academy Fieldhouse, the Townies’ junior saved his best for last as he claimed the boys’ long jump title on his final attempt of the competition.

A two-sport athlete in the winter, Ogunronbi, who is a contributor to the EPHS boys’ basketball team as well, soared 21 feet, 9.5 inches on his final effort of the day to edge North Kingstown senior Andrew Whitney, whose longest leap was 21’7.”

“It was really a good feeling,” Ogunronbi said of his first high school state championship. “I felt like I could do it going in, but you just have to perform and show up.”

Participants in the competition were allotted six jumps total, each potentially counting towards the final results. Ogunronbi was at the top of the leaderboard from the outset, actually posting what would have been the winning distance on his first attempt of the day, before punctuating his victorious performance on his sixth try.

“It was mostly (EPHS head) coach (Bob Lyons) telling me to stay up-right and run hard to the board and just let the rest handle itself,” Ogunronbi said of his approach during the event.

“The best one was the last one I did,” he continued. “In my mind, I was thinking this is probably my last jump of the indoor season, so I just wanted to go all out, do better than I did the last time.”

Because of potential conflicts with his basketball commitment, Ogunronbi had it in the back of his mind his indoor track season might be over at states. Though he is eligible to compete in the New England Championship Meet next weekend in Boston, the EPHS boys’ basketball team may also still be alive in the Division I playoffs.

He admitted his responsibilities to each sport made excelling at the long jump a bit difficult. Barely able to compete in the Townies’ Metropolitan Division dual meets earlier in the winter, Ogunrobi still managed a must-have top tier result at the Class A meet two weeks ago to qualify for states, which he did as the fourth seed. Kahlin Watkins, of Bishop Hendricken, entered states atop the performance list having jumped a season-best 22’10.25” in winning the event at the East Coast Invitational in January. He placed eighth at states with a 20’3.5.”

“It made it real tough because I didn’t get to practice much during the season,” Ogunronbi said. “The meets that I was able to get to, I just had to work on my form, take in what (the coaches) were trying to tell me what to do.”

Added Lyons, “Clinton needed to compete at the Class A meet in order to qualify for states. Going into the class meet he was seeded 26th and needed to get into the top 18 to qualify for states. He had only jumped in one dual meet prior to the class meet due to his basketball commitment. He had conflicts in his schedule all season, which made it almost impossible to compete. Last outdoor season he was consistently in the 21-foot plus range, so we knew he was capable. Jumping 21’8” on his first jump (Saturday) was a huge confidence builder and off he went.”

Though he knew at the weekend his indoor season could be done, Ogunronbi held out the possibility he may still compete in the New England meet. If not, he’ll begin setting his sights on improving his sixth-place finish (20’7”) in the long jump at last year’s outdoor state meet.

“I declared. I said I want to go. In case it’s open, I definitely want to go,” Ogunronbi added. “But if I can’t, I’ll just get ready for outdoor season.”

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