TOP 10 STORIES OF THE YEAR : Fischer Made a Huge Jump in His Sport

Jeremy Fischer, a 5-foot-9 1/2 high jumper from Camarillo High, stood out in an event that is usually ruled by athletes standing 6 feet 2 or taller.

Fischer, the runner-up to Jeff Nadeau of Monroe in the 1993 State championships, finished second in two indoor meets at the start of the year, but was undefeated against high school competition outdoors.

He raised his personal best to 7 feet 3 inches in his opening outdoor meet in early March and cleared a region record of 7-4 in the Santa Barbara Relays later in the month.

The mark--which moved Fischer into a tie for eighth on the all-time national high school list--came at such an early stage in the season that the national (7-6) and state (7-4 1/2) records appeared within his reach.

He fell short in his quest for those records, but it was hard to fault his accomplishments.

The Wisconsin-bound Fischer cleared 7 feet or higher in 11 meets and jumped 7-2 or higher seven times.

He hit a grand slam of sorts in May and June by winning the Southern Section Division I, State, Golden West Invitational and USA Track & Field Junior championships.

Although his season ended on a down note when he failed to qualify for the final of the World Junior Championships in July, Fischer was the No. 1-ranked high jumper in the nation by Track & Field News and finished third in the magazine’s balloting for high school athlete of the year.