The 2017 track and field season is almost in the books, with only a few loose ends left to tie up first. One of those loose ends is naming the boys Athlete of the Year in the field events. The boys field event poll had some of the nation's and the world's best like throwers Adrian Piperi and Gabe Oladipo, triple jumper Jalen Seals, and pole vaulter Riley Richards. All entrants in the poll were either SPC, TAPPS, or UIL state champs. In the end, it was Katy Tompkins' high jumper Mason Corbin who tallied enough votes to take the win.
The result of this competition was totally up to the family, teammates, and the running community. There were a total of 4,582 votes collected and Corbin earned 39.9% of the public vote with 1,828 total votes.
Corbin's 2017 season was not your typical track season. This was Corbin's first year competing in track and field. He had never had a high jump attempt until the week prior to his first meet. Corbin was discovered by a school mate who saw him dunking in the school gymnasium. He had just completed his school basketball season. That soon to be teammate would tell the Tompkins coaches who eventually summoned Corbin. One sight of his ability and the Katy Tompkins coaches knew they had something special.
Corbin would eventually go on to win his first track meet with a winning jump of 6-7. Who jumps 6-7 in their first ever meet? Well that would be the launching pad for Corbin who would eventually win every competition except for major invitational meets like TSU Relays and Victor Lopez where he placed second and Texas Relays where he took third place. His only losses came to other jumpers who would qualify for state. Corbin would eventually get back on track with his winning streak collecting wins for district, area, and regional titles. At the UIL 6A state meet, Corbin would seize the 6A high jump championship.
Corbin's 6-11 personal best that he achieved at the state meet would set the course for his upcoming senior year. Winning a UIL 6A state championship carries weight around the nation and doing so in less than six months of action will cause almost anyone to focus on track and field as their craft. Corbin will put basketball on the back burner and make the high jump his priority.
Look for bigger things and higher heights to come from Corbin in 2018.
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