NEWMAN NAMED KJCCC FIELD ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

Richard Newman was named Jayhawk Conference Field Athletic of the week for his 7 foot, 1/4 inch high jump on Saturday in Crete, NE. (Joel Powers/Blue Dragon Sports Information)
Richard Newman was named Jayhawk Conference Field Athletic of the week for his 7 foot, 1/4 inch high jump on Saturday in Crete, NE. (Joel Powers/Blue Dragon Sports Information)

Hutchinson CC Sports Information

Hutchinson Community College freshman Richard Newman earned Jayhawk Conference Men's Field Athletic of the Week honors after breaking 7 feet in the high jump last Saturday.

Clearing 7 feet, 1/4 inch to win the men's high jump at the Fred Beile Classic in Crete, Nebraska, on Saturday, Newman moved into No. 2 in the nation in the event in becoming only the third Blue Dragon in indoor track and field history to clear at least 7 feet.

His mark was one-quarter inch shy of breaking the school record set in 1994.

Newman, from Topeka, has won three high jumps in four meets this season.

He is a double qualifier for the upcoming NJCAA Championships in March at Lubbock, Texas. In addition to being ranked No. 2 in the nation in the high jump, Newman is No. 6 in NJCAA Division I in the long jump. He went 23 feet 5 1/2 inches on Saturday.

Newman will be competing at the Gorilla Indoor Classic on Saturday in Pittsburg. Another group of Blue Dragons will be at the Highland Classic in Highland.