Published: May 22, 2009 11:19 pm      

Gill takes NAIA long jump title

EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. — Taylor University sophomore Scott Gill soared to a national championship at the NAIA Track and Field National Championships Friday with a leap of 24 feet, 5 inches on his last attempt in the long jump finals.

Gill, from Flatwoods, gave Taylor its 14th track national championship by becoming the seventh different men’s track and field athlete to capture an individual crown.

“This monumental achievement for Scott has come about because of his diligence in practice and his ability to be consistent all season long,” said Taylor head coach Ted Bowers. “His consistency was there again today. We are just really pleased to have someone back on top of the podium.”

Gill, a former Kentucky Mr. Track award winner, was ranked No. 1 entering Friday’s competition. But the victory did not come without some tense moments. Following the prelims, Gill stood in third place and he was bumped back to fourth heading into his final jump.

“All I thought about was I just needed to hit the board and rely on what I’ve done all year,” Gill said about his final attempt. “I was in a similar situation at the conference meet. I said, ‘OK, this is happening again.’ I had the experience and I just needed to go out and do what I know how to do.”

Gill popped off the board and passed all three of the competitors ahead of him. He became Taylor’s first men’s track national champion since 2003.

“He just hit the board perfect and it was just what we were looking for,” Bowers said.

A year ago as a freshman, Gill was ranked fifth in the long jump entering the competition but finished a disappointing 11th. Gill, who also plays basketball for the Trojans, did finish fourth in the high jump last season to earn All-American honors, but did not qualify for the event this season.

“I was a little star struck last year in the long jump,” Gill said. “That experience from last year definitely helped me today because I knew more of what to expect.”

The only other Taylor long jumper in program history to score at the NAIA National Meet was Paul Meriweather, who finished seventh at the championships 20 years ago.

Following Gill’s win, Taylor stood in a tie for sixth place in the meet with 10 points. Concordia (Ore.) was the team leader through six scored events with 36 points.

Gill redirected the praise coming his way after the moment of glory.

“Taylor University track in one word is: amazing,’’ he said. ``My teammates are not only my friends, but they’re my family. The coaches here are great people and coaches. Praise the Lord for what I was able to do today.”