Marcus Goode is happy that track and field has moved outdoors. Goode, a senior at Freehold Township, is one of those track athletes whose best events are seldom contested indoors- the triple jump and long jump.
"There are a lot more meets, more opportunities to do something," said Goode on the outdoor season. "I used the indoor season to build towards outdoors.
"I feel a little more restricted indoors," he added. "Outdoors is a lot of fun."
In his few triple jump opportunities (most at the NewYork City Armory), Goode traveled 45-11, not far off his outdoor Shore Conference outdoor record 46-10½ set last year finishing second at the Group IV State Championships.
Goode said it was encouraging to be jumping 44-45 feet at this stage of the year. Last year he was doing 42-43. He wants to hit 48 feet by midseason and to be near 50 feet in June at the state meets (the state record is 49-4¾ by Notre Dame’s Tiquan Underwood).
"During the school year, I’ve hit the weights, done plyometrics and the strength has helped me with my craft," Goode pointed out. "I’m stronger and faster and my technique is better.
According to Goode, the son of 1984U.S. Olympic high jumper Milt Goode, the most important part of the triple jump is the second step. In the triple jump, the jumper lands first on his takeoff foot, and then in the next phase, the second step lands on his opposite foot for the jump into the pit. The more a jumper can get out of his first step with his lead leg, the further he will jump.
"I’ve spent a lot of practice time on the second step," he pointed out.
Goode’s results (second place at the state sectional and state Group meets last year) are even more impressive considering that the long jump is the one he prefers.
Goode long jumped 21-3 indoors and would like to get out around 23 feet this spring. He’d like to win both jumps at the Freehold District, county and conference championships.
The 100- and 200-meter dashes aren’t going to take a back seat, however. He will compete in both sprints and jumps in dual meets for the Pats. Goode believes he can be competitive in both the century and the 200 up to the state sectionals. He’d like to run the 100 under 11 seconds and the 200 in the mid-22s. He knows that improvement there will make him better in the triple and long jump.
The season begins in earnest on Saturday with the Rebel Relays at Howell High School. On Saturday, April 12, it’s Colts Neck’s turn with the Colts Neck Relays.
The Freehold Regional District Championships are May 1 at Howell High School. This meet ushers in the championship season. The Monmouth County Championships are May 7 and 10 at Neptune High School. Neptune is also hosting the Shore Conference meet May 16-17.
The NJSIAA Central Jersey Championships are at Hillsborough High School (Group IV) May 23-24. The State Group Championships are at Egg Harbor TownshipMay 30-31 and the Meet of Champions is June 4 at South Plainfield High School.
Other big dates on the track and field schedule are: the Holmdel Relays, May 16- 18; the Penn Relays in Philadelphia, Pa., April 26-28; East Coast Relays in Morristown, May 19; and the Nike Outdoor Nationals, June 19-21 in Greensboro, N.C.