Landon wins high jump with PR of 7-3
<span>Former Chester High School high jump standout Kyle Landon is in the middle of his sophomore indoor track and field season at Southern Illinois University.</span>
<span>The Salukis have been competing since before Christmas and Landon has won most meets in high jump and finished runner-up in one other competition. </span>
<span>At the Indiana Relays Jan. 30 and 31, Landon picked up another win and a new personal-best jump of 7-3.</span>
<span>"Well it is really amazing and I am really glad I finally broke the old PR, but it was actually bittersweet," said Landon on how he felt about his new record. "I almost hit 7-4.25 on my following attempts.</span>
<span>"I actually had it, but I forgot to lift my heel and it caught the bar on my last attempt. Otherwise, I would have even cleared 7-4.25."</span>
<span>Landon's best jump of the 2014-2015 season, prior to the Indiana Relays, was his former record set spring 2014 at the NCAA Nationals of 7-2.50.</span>
<span>He placed third in that competition, which was actually third-best in the nation. That meet was when Landon earned All-American honors for his accomplishment.</span>
<span>The 7-3 mark for Landon moves him into a tie for fourth all-time at SIU for indoor track and field high jump.</span>
<span>Currently, Landon is tied with Neophytes Kalogerou, who achieved that feat in 1996. Landon now ranks fifth in the nation at the height of 7-3.</span>
<span>Landon said he is excited about the upcoming outdoor season because he usually jumps better outdoors.</span>
<span>"I don't really know why but most people jump better outdoors," he said. "I don't know if it is mechanics or what, but most jumpers do better outdoors."</span>
<span>This spring, Landon has a goal of hitting the 7-5 mark.</span>
<span>"I am putting in the work to accomplish 7-5 this spring or maybe even 7-5.25," he said. "I am going to do my best.</span><span><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span>"I really appreciate all the support I get from my friends back home in Chester. Thanks to everyone. I'll continue to try my best to improve each day."</span>
<span>Landon's teammate, Lindsey Murray of Harrisburg, also had a great outing at the Indiana Relays. She broke her own record for the third time as a Saluki with her vault of 13-07.</span>
<span>Murray now owns the all-time SIU indoor pole vault record.</span>
<span id="docs-internal-guid-638b43f2-57c8-77f1-b9f5-13ada9f57f23"><span>Her latest accomplishment broke her former record by almost two inches. Murray's vault of 13-07 is almost four inches better than her high school record last spring of 13-04. </span></span>