Denmark’s Alexander aims to make jump to state podium
Seth Alexander isn’t one to shy away from competition.
The Denmark junior jumps at the chance to measure himself against the best in whatever he does.
It’s the reason he pleaded with his coach last month to see if the Vikings’ track and field schedule could be altered in anyway possible after the long and triple jumps at the Dan Baker Invite in De Pere on April 18 were cancelled due to the wet conditions of the pits.
Alexander, who ranks second in the Green Bay area with a long jump of 21 feet, 6½ inches, was looking forward at the meet to going up against Bay Port junior Isaiah Gash, who ranks first with a jump of 21-8.
“That’s one thing I really enjoy about Seth,” Denmark coach Tom Neuman said about Alexander’s plea attempts to reschedule in order to compete against Gash.
“He’s very competitive. We go to meets where there is Division 1 schools, and he gets frustrated when he sees there is people jumping further than him so he goes ahead and tries to match that.”
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Alexander reset his school record in the long jump last month and heads into the WIAA regionals as the North Eastern Conference champion in the event.
A podium finish at state track and field would be the perfect way to end what has been a tremendous junior year for Alexander, who helped Denmark’s football team make the playoffs for the first time since 2014 and played a role in the basketball team’s first state appearance since 1985.
All the success came after a scary setback for the three-sport athlete last June.
An accident at work left Alexander with third-degree burns across his arms, legs and part of his face.
The recovery took several weeks for the burns to heal, and Alexander was champing at the bit to get ready for the football season when he was cleared to participate.
“I had to wear padded sleeves on my arms and I wore leggings from keeping those from getting reopened because that would not be fun,” Alexander said. “I just looked at it as something I had to overcome.”
Alexander advanced to state as a freshman with Denmark’s 800-meter relay, which placed fifth and featured his brother, Sawyer, a senior.
“It was cool. I know he really enjoyed,” Alexander said. “I wanted to get him there more than I did because obviously I had three more years after that. Seeing him going out at state and make the podium was pretty cool.”
Alexander broke his older brother’s school record in the long jump before advancing to state in the event last year.
He is aiming to advance to state again and improve upon his 11th-place finish from last year when his nerves got the best of him.
“That’s something I have in the back of my head now,” he said. “If I make it this year, I’ll really prepare well and make sure everything is on point so I can perform better than I did last year.”
Although Alexander wasn’t able to win the NEC triple jump title for a second straight year, he did achieve a personal-best mark of 41-2½ as the runner-up to rank fifth in the Green Bay area. It’s also two inches off the school record set in 1994 by Ryan Gronke.
Alexander’s contributions to Denmark, though, are measured by more than a tape measure.
“He’s done a good job of mentoring our young athletes,” Neuman said. “I’m really proud of him. He wants the triple jump record and already owns the long jump record and before all is said and done he could have the 100-meter dash record.”
