H-S Athlete of the week: Lee Qualk, California
Jonathan Guth | Herald-Standard
Name: Lee Qualk
Year: Senior
Sport: Track & field
School: California
Qualk’s week: The Trojans’ long jumper soared nearly 23 feet through the air to win the state championship in Class 2A last Friday in the PIAA Track & Field Championships at Seth Grove Stadium on the campus of Shippensburg University.
Qualk’s official mark was 22-10.50, which he hit on his sixth and final attempt of his high school career.
Qualk is the first male in the history of track & field at California Area High School to win a state title. Kailyn Clancy won a state championship in the Class 2A girls shot put in 2014.
“It is an amazing feeling to be in the history books as the first male to win a state championship at California,” Qualk said. “It was great to be able to represent our school. People would see me jump and ask where our school is. I have been looking at the gold medal a lot the last few days. It is a dream come true.”
Qualk’s dream of winning a state title appeared to be in jeopardy during last Friday’s competition, as he was fourth entering the finals. The rain and wind was constant for the majority of early morning, and with the event beginning at 9, the athletes had to conquer some unsavory conditions.
“I went through a wave of emotions over roughly 15 minutes of time,” Qualk said. “The rain was pouring during the finals, but it cleared up a little bit for my last jump, which turned out to be my best. I just had to block out everything and execute. I had a feeling when I was in the air that it was going to be a good jump. I was just hoping it was enough to win.”
Can jump with the big boys: Qualk entered this season as the reigning WPIAL champion in the long jump in Class 2A, but he didn’t have a satisfying performance in the state meet as a junior.
Qualk’s moment that started the rumblings he could win the state championship in the long jump began when he jumped a personal record (PR) of 23-5.50 to win the 51st Baldwin Invitational on May 2. Qualk defeated some of the top Class 3A jumpers at Baldwin.
“It was definitely an exciting moment to win at the Baldwin Invitational,” Qualk said. “I look up to those guys that jump in Class 3A. I love the camaraderie that comes with track & field. There is no dirty play or hard feelings. Everybody wants to give it their all to win, but we still cheer each other on throughout the competition.”
Love for the sport: The majority of football players participate in track & field to keep in shape or build up their speed during the offseason, but Qualk, who was a star for head coach Ed Woods and the Trojans, has always enjoyed track & field.
“I got into track & field because I always wanted to do it,” Qualk said. “My brother, Lucas Qualk, had participated in the sports, and I was eager to do it. I had always been pretty fast when I was young, and I had a PR of 18-5 in eighth grade.”
The long jump wasn’t the only event Qualk competed in, as he was a state qualifier last year in the 100-meter dash. Qualk had a PR of 11.24 in the event. He was also the anchor leg on California’s 400-meter relay team that competed in the WPIAL championship meet.
The next level: Qualk hasn’t committed to a college, but he plans on studying engineering. Qualk will participate in track & field at the collegiate level if the opportunity presents itself.