Long Branch's Worsley is a Fast Learner

Long Branch’s Steve Worsley is the type of dynamic, raw athlete who can demoralize those who work hard every day on refining technique to try to get that extra inch on a leap or second on a sprint.

The Green Wave senior was asked to try the triple jump this season by head track coach Dan George after serving primarily as a sprinter. Without any prior experience, technique or training, all Worsley did was jump 44 feet the first time he tried it in practice. To put that into perspective, the longest jump in New Jersey during the outdoor season this spring is 46 feet, 11 inches by Don Bosco Prep’s Greg Hazell.

“I didn’t figure I was going to go that far with it,’’ Worsley said. “I was just trying it out so that I could get some points for the team in big meets.’’

The explosive Worsley, who was a starting defensive back/wide receiver on the football team, currently has the fourth-longest jump in the state this season. He turned in a career-best 44-11 ¾ at the Lion Invitational at Middletown North on April 30 and has a legitimate shot to place at the NJSIAA Meet of Champions at the end of the season despite only picking up the event this year.

“I actually have gotten good at it, and I’ve started to like it,’’ he said. “I’ve taken it from there, and I’m starting to hit 45 (feet) on a consistent basis in practice.’’

This past Saturday at the Long Branch Relays on the Green Wave’s home track, he added another triple jump title to his resume with a leap of 42-8. Other than that, it was all about the sprints for Worsley. In his final performance in front of his home crowd, Worsley was part of the winning 4x100 relay team with senior Miles Shuler, sophomore Jordan Rogers and freshman Shabazz Shuler in a time of 43.74 seconds.

The team of Miles Shuler, Rogers, Worsley and Curtis Gunter took first place in the 4x200 relay in a time of 1:32, and Worsley was also part of the winning 4x400 team with Miles Shuler, Gunter and Laron Day in a time of 3:33.81.

“Everybody was screaming, and it was our home crowd,’’ Worsley said. “This was big for us.’’

With its army of sprinters and jumpers, Long Branch is hoping to be a factor in the upcoming Monmouth County Championships, which begin on Wednesday at Holmdel High School. Worsley has been doing the event for all of a month, but is the favorite to bring home the county triple jump title. His own teammate, Kenneth Jelks, may be his biggest competition.

Worsley hopes to continue to rapidly improve in the triple jump, even though he admitted that he isn’t exactly studying manuals and watching instructional videos when it comes to honing his form.

“Honestly, I can say I still don’t know technique,’’ he said before smiling. “I just wing it. I don’t take marks or steps. I just look with my eyes and go jump. Thankfully they’ve been good jumps.’’

Worsley said he has committed to Nassau (N.Y.) Community College, where he will play wide receiver on the football team and also be part of the track team.

If this season is any indication, he has only scratched the surface of what he can do in the triple jump, which may one day be his ticket to a four-year university.

“I feel it doesn’t really matter how long you’ve been doing it,’’ he said. “If you’re a good athlete you can do anything.’’