Jumper earns national runner-up, breaks record

At the second day of the NCAA Championship meet on March 14-15, sophomore jumper Aarik Wilson took part in one of the great duels of triple jump. Wilson and University of Southern California sophomore Allen Simms exchanged the lead several times in the finals with Simms coming out on top.\nWilson shattered Robert Cannon's 30-year-old school record by over a foot with a jump of 16.99 meters en route to his second place finish. He entered the meet seeded fourth in the triple jump but with expectations of victory.\n"I love getting records and stuff like that, but I really want to win," Wilson said. "You could say that I'm mad that I didn't win indoors. That's my goal. I want to get my ring, and I want to be the best this year."\nDuring the first day of competition, Wilson competed in the long jump and surpassed expectations. He entered ranked 13th in the event but a jump of 7.88 meters was enough to place sixth in the nation. Coach Marshall Goss said Wilson had some scratches that would have placed him even higher.\nIn high school Wilson focused more on the triple jump and also had aspirations of becoming a better long jumper. In his two years at IU, he has improved his personal best by almost three feet. He is only 20 and his coaches said he still has much room for improvement.\n"He's lighter, stronger and faster than he was at this point last year," jumping coach Wayne Pate said. "When you put those together, you're going to jump farther."\nWith his potential, Wilson said he is excited about what the future holds. Already he has earned All-American honors three times, was twice runner-up at the NCAA Championship meet and has twice won the Big Ten Championship, and he is only 20-years old.\n"I think he's made the move into the echelon as an international competitor, now he's got to move into the higher echelon in the United States," Goss said.\nWilson said he has his sights set on the Olympics next year. He has proved he can compete at the Olympic level. Goss said the jump that placed Wilson second at the NCAA Championships would have placed him in the top 10 at the World Championships and he still can improve dramatically.\n"I'm hoping that he'll qualify for the trials in both (long and triple jump) then have the option of picking one or the other," Pate said. "He has the ability and the talent of maybe making the team in either one."\nWilson said he is excited about the Olympics as they are growing closer each day. He said his chances with the Olympics rest on his ability to continue to improve in both events. \n"He's got the desire and heart, that's for sure," Pate said. "He's one of the most competitive kids I've ever coached. When you get a kid that's that competitive, there's no telling how far he can go"