Jumping in --

By Tim Casey -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 a.m. PDT Thursday, May 15, 2003

After a disappointing football season, Bella Vista senior track star Gerrell Cain has had a memorable spring.

Cain, a running back and cornerback, injured his right ankle at Burbank on Oct. 5 and played sparingly on offense the rest of the season as the Broncos finished 6-4 overall, 3-3 in the Capital Athletic League.

With his injury healed, he has recorded the state's fourth-best long jump (23 feet, 8 1/2 inches), according to DyeStatCal.

He also has run 48.79 seconds in the 400 meters, which is No. 2 in the section. He will compete in the 400, long jump and possibly the 200 the rest of the year.

Before this year, Cain's best long jump was 21-7 1/2. Cain and Bella Vista coach Dave Unterholzner have concentrated on more sprint workouts, which have helped his approach in the long jump.

"He's definitely more focused. He's a lot more powerful (leaping) off the board," Unterholzner said.

Said Cain: "I've just been working a lot harder. Now I expect to keep improving."