Local Athlete Competes, Wins Big at Two High-Stake Track Meets

Photos courtesy of Michael Burke

Myles Lincoln, Plainfield South High School student-athlete, competed in two high-stake track meets this summer: the 2018 Down Under Games held at Griffith University Track in Gold Coast, Queensland Australia and the 2018 AAU Junior Olympic Games held at Drake Univeristy Stadium in Des Moines, Iowa.

In Australia which was Lincoln's first international competition, he was edged out of first place by one inch taking 2nd in the Men 16-17 Division Triple Jump with a jump of 43 feet 3 inches and 3rd place in the Men 16-17 Division Long Jump with a jump of 21 feet. At the 2018 Junior Olympic Games, Myles clinched 3rd in the 15-16 Boys Triple Jump with a jump of 44 feet 11 inches.

Prior to his international competition and AAU Junior Olympics appearance, Lincoln qualified for the Illinois State Track meet in triple jump (44 feet 9 inches). In addition, he clinched the first place champion titles for both long and triple jump at the AAU Region 13 National Qualifier where he set his triple jump personal best jumping 45 ft 5 in. Lincoln is currently ranked as the #2 sophomore triple jumper in the state of Illinois (MileSplit Illinois).

Lincoln states he contribute his jumping success to his parent-coaches Nicole and Matthew Lincoln (Rush Athetics USA), his high school coach Marcus Allen Norment, his mentor Marchan Adkins, Carl Lewis Perfect Method program, and many opportunities AAU Track and Field provides for him to develop his love of jumping.

"When I first began track and field for my mom's AAU track club at age 5, I only long jumped and sprinted 100m, 200m, and 400m. At age 14, my mom introduced me to triple jump one week before I clinched the 14 Boys Triple Jump champion title at the AAU Indoor Track and Field National Championship in Maryland. From that moment, I knew triple jump was my event," Lincoln spoke humbly.