Jumper shows promise

By STEVE GREEN, THE LONDON FREE PRESS

Last Updated: May 13, 2011 9:51pm

With his Troy Polamalu mane and unusual first name, Locky Butcher stands out. His performances early in this high school track and field season do, too.

The Grade 9 student at Central didn't have his best meet at the TVRAA Central Conference championships at TD Waterhouse Stadium, but he still had three top-three finishes despite a bad back; he wrenched it in high jump at the St. Pat's meet in Sarnia last week.

He won the midget boys' long jump Thursday with a leap of 5.43 metres; Friday he was third in the high jump with 1.55 metres after stopping to protect his back and took second in the triple jump with an 11.94-metre effort.