Ankle Sprain Sidelines Notre Dame’s Parker

Tom Parker of Notre Dame High, the runner-up in last year’s state championships in the pole vault, was an unwilling spectator at the Alemany/Northridge Relays at Cal State Northridge on Saturday.

The Knight senior, who cleared a personal best of 16 feet, 1 inch, three weeks ago, sprained his right ankle walking down a flight of stairs Friday and watched Saturday’s proceedings on a pair of crutches.

The ankle sprain is the second injury Parker has suffered this season.

He was sidelined for six weeks because of a stress fracture in his right leg after the Sunkist Invitational in January. He is not sure how long he will be out this time.

“I’m hoping it will heal quickly,” he said. “I’d like to jump next week.”

Notre Dame is scheduled to compete in the Bishop Amat Relays at Mt. SAC on Saturday.