Siegal's Solution: Derek Drouin deserves more recognition

If you attend IU and have not heard of senior high jumper Derek Drouin, then you probably live under a rock.

This past weekend at the Big Ten Championships, Drouin set the world record in the men’s heptathlon high jump event.

Drouin has proven time and time again why he’s one of the top track and field athletes in the country, and is now one of the top high jumpers in the world.

During the years, a list of his track and field accomplishments reads like a Harvard pre-med graduate’s resume.

In 2009, he won the Pan American Junior Championships in the high jump for Canada.

The success has continued for Drouin at IU.

He has won the last three NCAA championships in the high jump.

Then, the collegiate success translated to the international level.

This past summer at the London Summer Olympics, Drouin won the Bronze medal for Canada in the high jump with the world watching.

It is very impressive for a young track and field athlete to do this well on this stage.

His jump cleared 2.29m, which was right behind Ivan Ukhov of Russia and Erik Kynard of the U.S.

Drouin’s medal was one of Canada’s 18 total medals in the Olympics and one of 12 Bronze medals.

Also, this was Canada’s first medal in the high jump since the 1976 Summer Olympics, when Greg Joy medaled for the country.

Drouin’s ability to perform well has continued to his final season at IU.

This year, Drouin has finished well at all the events he has competed in.

In December’s Hoosier Open, the Canada native earned first place in the indoor pentathlon, where he was first in 60m hurdles, high jump and long jump.

In the other two events, the 1,000m run and shot put, he finished second and third, respectively.

It shows how talented of an athlete he is because of the success he has had in a variety of track and field events.

In the Indiana relays Jan. 25, Drouin won the high jump and long jump events.

Then, he finished first again in the high jump at the Hoosier Hills competition in early February.

It is a pretty impressive season for the senior to end the indoor season with a world record in the high jump.

With every great athlete, there is a great coach helping him reach his full potential.

Associate Head Coach Jeff Huntoon has been that great coach for Drouin.

Huntoon works specifically with the sprints, hurdles, jumps and multi-event athletes.

Through his four years at Indiana, Drouin has excelled in the high and long jump events because of Huntoon’s coaching.

Drouin appears to be the favorite to win in the high jump at the NCAA Indoor Championships in March.

If Drouin does win, then he will go down as one of the top IU track and field athletes ever.

He is one of the main reasons why IU students shouldn’t just care about the student-athletes playing popular sports like basketball and football.

When all is said and done, Drouin will go down as one of the best IU athletes ever.

—amsiegal@indiana.edu