Sondre Guttormsen made a tough decision that would ultimately make a big impact on his night Friday at the Texas Relays.
The Davis (CA) High senior, who was competing in the boys high school division of the competition, decided to open his first height at 17 feet, 2 inches rather than 16-8, which his two next closest competitors -- Missouri's KC Lightfoot and Illinois' Zachery Bradford -- opted for instead.
And for a moment, it looked like the wrong call, especially after Bradford and Lightfoot both cleared their first attempt at 17-2, while Guttormsen, who looked good on his first attempt but knocked off the bar, had to work through a change in standards before he finally cleared on his third run at the height.
And there was also this: On his second run, Guttormsen's pole hit a portion of the pit that protruded out, forcing him perilously close to falling off the pit. After deliberation with officials -- and some help from pro Jenn Suhr -- he was given his attempt back.
Ultimately, Guttormsen battled through a few nervy attempts to clear 17-2.
But then he made an even bigger decision.
He passed at 17-8.
"5.46," Guttormsen said of the next attempt at 17-11. "The poles I was on, I knew I could make that jump."
Bradford and Lightfoot both couldn't put the pieces together at 17-8, which put Guttormsen in a position to earn the win. All he had to do was clear 17-11.
Easy enough in theory, but Guttormsen hadn't cleared that height outdoors yet.
But on his third attempt, and with a slow clap emerging from the crowd, the Norwegian youth international and Davis senior finally cleared the height, setting a new junior record for Norway and claiming his first Texas Relays championship.
"I thought it was a good jump," Guttormsen said.
Guttormsen tried to attempt for the high school division's record of 18-2.50, though wasn't adjusted enough to a new pole -- 5.0 meters -- and finished his night with two big clearances.
Bradford and Lightfoot, who both cleared 16-8 and 17-2 on identical attempts, tied for second.
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