Ehrhardt caps off high school with another record-breaking triple jump

Caroline Ehrhardt of Espanola High School jumps her way into the record
books on her final jump at the OFSAA Championships in London.  Her
triple jump of 12.78 metres broke the Canadian Interscholastic Record
that she established last year at this meet.

Espanola High School Spartan, Caroline Ehrhardt, proudly tops the podium for the sixth and final time of her high school career, winning the gold in triple jump with 12.78 metres.

Last year, Caroline Ehrhardt of Espanola High School set the Canadian Interscholastic Record in triple jump at the annual OFSAA track and field competition with a jump of 12.76 metres. This year, she broke her own record, reaching an impressive 12.78 metres on her final jump at the OFSAA competition in London this past weekend. She ends her secondary career as the most successful athlete in Espanola High School’s history.

“After four years of high school, Caroline has competed at eight OFSAA championships – four of them in cross-country running and four in track and field,” says Coach David Gallant. “But there will never be a moment quite like the one that capped off her eighth and final OFSAA competition.  With the entire track meet on pause and both grandstands full of spectators clapping in unison, Caroline Ehrhardt jumped farther than any girl in a high school competition in Canadian history.”

"It feels great to break my own record," said Ehrhardt. "I know I was in excellent shape last year when I set it, so I am particularly proud of my accomplishment.” As Ehrhardt stood on the runway for her final jump, the track announcer called everyone’s attention to "…the most successful triple jumper in Canadian history who has one jump left in her high school career to try and break her own Canadian Interscholastic record."  And with all events halted as her final jump took place, including the 100 metre finals, all eyes focused on Ehrhardt at the top of the runway.  Spectators cheered as Ehrhardt took off to begin her record jump.

"When the announcer was talking, I kept telling myself that I could do this, that this was the moment it was going to happen for me," said Ehrhardt. “And it did!” “When Caroline came out of the sand and 12.78 metres was posted on the scoreboard, the crowd erupted in applause,” said Coach Gallant. "It truly was a spectacular moment in track and field history."

Caroline Ehrhardt won the triple jump by 62 centimetres over Julia Stille from Lisgar Collegiate Institute in Ottawa who jumped 12.19 metres to claim the silver medal. "Caroline has improved by three metres in the past four years," said Track North Coach Jim Taylor.  "I’m very proud of her accomplishments."

Ehrhardt finished her high school career with six OFSAA gold medals.  She has dominated both the long jump and the triple jump for the past three years, after finishing fourth in the long jump and fifth in the triple jump in Grade 9.  She won the Senior Girls’ Long Jump at this year’s provincial event, with a season best jump of 5.87 metres.  Her best triple jump of the competition was 12.81 metres.  That jump didn’t count for the record books, however, because there was a wind reading of 2.5 metres per second. Any wind over 2.0 metres per second is deemed to be a "helping wind" and negates any records.

"My first OFSAA gold medal stands out the most," said Ehrhardt. "The year before, I finished fifth in triple jump and no one really saw me as a threat.” She added: “Then all of a sudden, I was taking hold and breaking the OFSAA Junior Girls’ Triple Jump record.  That medal means a lot to me because it represents my breakthrough."

With graduation in sight, Caroline Ehrhardt will soon be packing up her medals and track spikes to take them to the University of Oklahoma where she will compete as a Sooner for the next four years.  But not before she competes at the World Junior Trials in Moncton, New Brunswick from July 2nd to 4th. As the defending champion in the triple jump,  she hopes to break 13 metres. Winners at the World Trials will move on to the World Junior Track and Field Championships in Moncton from July 19th – 25th.

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