June 24, 2000

Paull competes at Nationals

Columbian graduate Josh Paull returned home from Raleigh, N.C. Thursday where he had been competing in the long jump at the National Scholastic Sports Foundation meet.

Paull had a strong showing, placing fifth and earning high school All-American honors.

On Friday, June 16, the Columbian star cleared 6-7to advance to Saturday's finals. In the finals, Paul Klemic of New Jersey cleared 7-4 1/2 to out-jump the field and take the national championship.

Paull fell just three-quarters of an inch short of equalling his personal best and Columbian school record of 6-10. He and two other athletes tied at 6-9 1/4. Paull had to settle for fifth place behind the other two. It took him all three attempts to clear the height, one more than the fourth place finisher.

After clearing 6-9 1/4, Paull did make two unsuccessful attempts at 6-11 1/2. Then, he waited till the bar was raised to 7-1, where he made his final attempt, bowing out of the competition.

The All-American finish capped off a successful senior year for Paull. He was Ohio indoor champion at the Elite Meet, took sixth at the state outdoor track meet in Dayton, earning All-Ohio recognition, and was first-team All-Northern Ohio League.