Jumpin’ Joe Planning to Fly Away

The answering machine picks up at the home of Buena Park’s Joe Thomas and a motherly voice recites, “You’ve reached Orange County’s long jump and triple jump champion. Please leave a message.”

It’s another example of how word is spreading of Thomas’ accomplishments in track and field this season.

Over loudspeakers at Buena Park High, the latest feats of “Jumpin’ Joe” are routinely described during the morning bulletin, and newspaper clippings and photos are proudly displayed on campus.

Henry Ellard, the former Los Angeles Ram who tripled jumped 56 feet while at Fresno State, got wind of Thomas’ leaping ability and showed up at practice two weeks ago with a videotape in hand--a tape Ellard had recorded of Thomas competing at the Division II preliminaries a few days earlier.

“I’m not much of a football fan, so I didn’t know who he was,” Thomas, a senior, said. “But everyone else seemed pretty excited.”

Thomas has built such a following at Buena Park this season that a van full of coaches, as well as Ellard, will accompany him to Sacramento this weekend for the state championships.

“He has created quite a stir around here,” Buena Park Athletic Director Dan Hirsch said. “Everyone is pretty aware of the great season he’s having.”

Thomas qualified for the state meet in the triple jump for the second consecutive year but hopes to advance through Friday’s preliminary round for the first time. “If I can get my backside to land where my heels do, then I should be OK,” Thomas said.

Thomas has shown he’s capable of extending his 130-pound frame in big meets. He won Orange County titles in the long and triple jumps this season, and captured the section Division II title in the triple jump two weeks ago.

Thomas also placed second in the long jump at the division finals and was seventh at the Masters meet. Thomas didn’t use his final attempt in the long jump at Masters, opting instead to preserve energy for his specialty. In addition to the horizontal jumps, Thomas also cleared 6-6 in the high jump this season, which matched the best mark in the county.

Thomas didn’t go directly to the runway when he came out for track his freshman year. He tried sprints early on, but an asthma condition didn’t allow him to continue. He gravitated to the infield, where he has improved steadily year after year.

Thomas finished fourth in the Division III triple jump last season, then advanced to the state meet with a fourth-place finish at Masters. He jumped a personal-best 45-4 on his last attempt in the state preliminaries but missed qualifying to the final round.

Thomas, who has added nearly 17 inches to his personal best in the triple jump, was named Freeway League track and field athlete of the year this season, and his two victories at the Orange County Championships single-handedly gave the Coyotes 10th place.

After watching Thomas at the preliminaries, Ellard offered some advice on the triple jump, such as leaping out and up on the first phase, instead of up and out. This would give Thomas more momentum and keep him from falling back on his landing, which Thomas tends to do, thus shortening his distance.

“Unfortunately it’s kind of a tough time of the season to make any technical changes,” Buena Park Coach Marc Tourville said. “But when someone like Henry Ellard shows up at your doorstep, you have to listen.”

Thomas’ pre-jump routine is unique. His preparation begins with the Lenny Kravitz tune “Fly Away” blasting over his headphones, which he doesn’t set aside until seconds before starting down the runway. Before he does, he performs the sign of the cross over and over, his breathing gets heavier and he rocks back and forth while counting in his head, “One, two. One, two, three.”

“There’s no set number of times I do the sign of the cross,” Thomas said. “Just when I finish praying to God, I take off.”

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Track and Field Facts

* What: State Track and Field Championships

* When: Gates open at 1:30 p.m. Friday with field events beginning at 2 and running events at 5. Gates open at 3:30 p.m. Saturday with field events beginning at 4 and running events at 6.

* Where: Hughes Stadium, Sacramento College

* Orange County boy participants: 100--Claude Melvin (Brea Olinda), Jr. 800--Antonio Lozano (Katella), Jr. 1,600--Bruce Hancock (Costa Mesa), Sr.; Ryan Bousquet (Esperanza), Jr. 3,200--Augie Escobar (Villa Park), Jr.; Jose Herrera (Loara), Sr.; Curt Herberts (Newport Harbor), Sr. 110 hurdles--Ahmad Wright (Kennedy), Sr. 300 hurdles--Ahmad Wright (Kennedy), Sr.; Trevor Jones (Newport Harbor), Jr. 1,600 relay--Servite. Triple jump--Joe Thomas (Buena Park), Sr. Discus--Sam Lightbody (Huntington Beach), Sr.; Travis Pendleton (Esperanza), Jr. Shotput--Sam Lightbody (Huntington Beach), Sr.; Pole vault--Logan Odden (Marina), Jr.; Jeff Ryan (Huntington Beach), Sr.

* Orange County girl participants: 400--Raven Hebert (Santa Ana Valley), Sr. 800--Liz Morse (Corona del Mar), Jr.; Maribeth Buche (Esperanza), So.; Sommer Owens (Santa Margarita), Fr. 1,600--Amber Steen (Newport Harbor), So. 3,200--Julie Allen (Fountain Valley), Fr.; Amber Steen (Newport Harbor), So. 100 hurdles--Dana Bethel (Mission Viejo), So. High jump--Biana Ziemann (Edison), Fr.; Rachael Ziemann (Edison), Fr. Long jump--Dana Bethel (Mission Viejo), So. Triple jump--Tynisia Edwards (Foothill), Sr. Discus--Samantha Meredith (El Modena), Jr.; Kristen Thompson (Esperanza), Jr.

* Admission: On Friday, $3 for students with IDs and children younger than 13; $7 general admission. On Saturday, $3 for children younger than 13; $4 for students with IDs, and $8 general admission.

* Information: (415) 492-5911; Internet website: https://www.cifstate.org