The all-state medals continue to pile up for Tyler Erwin.

The Montgomery County junior added two more medals to his collection after placing second in the long jump and third in the triple jump at the Class 3 state meet in Jefferson City, giving him a total of six all-state medals in his three-year high school track career with his senior year remaining.

Erwin jumped a 45-2.25 in the triple jump and a 22-9 in the long jump. He also competed in the high jump, but didn’t place.

“It is a blessing to have two more medals, a silver and a bronze medal, in the jumps,” Erwin said. “I’m really excited.”

Erwin placed eighth in the high jump when he was a freshman. In his sophomore year, he finished third in the high jump and long jump and fifth in the triple jump.

In this year’s long jump competition, Erwin was in first place before Bowling Green’s Bleyne Bryant surpassed him in the fifth attempt. Bryant, who plans to play football at the University of Wyoming, finished with a 23-1.75 and also won the title in the triple jump.

“Bleyne is a very good and consistent jumper,” Erwin said.

Later that day, Erwin finished with a 5-10.75 in the high jump. He was eliminated from all-state contention in the high jump after missing all three attempts at 6-0.75.

“Doing two events on the second day hurt my legs,” Erwin said.

Erwin competed in the triple jump on the first day on May 17. He finished behind Bryant and Brandon Moore of Central High School in Kansas City.
Erwin qualified for state in all three jumping events by placing second in the long and triple jumps and fourth in the high jump. It’s the second year in a row he competed in all three events at state.

“I love this atmosphere,” Erwin said. “I can be around this atmosphere all of my life. With all of the energy and all of the people, watching other competitors go at it is pretty fun to watch.”

Erwin also participated in his second state athletic event in two months. He helped the MCHS boys basketball team finish fourth at the Class 3 Show-Me Showdown in Columbia.

This spring, Erwin had nine victories in the jumping events. He began his junior season on March 19 by sweeping all three jumping events at the Montgomery County Early Invite.

Erwin was also successful in the 100, where he ran a personal-best 11.38 seconds in his second-place finish at the district meet on May 4 at MCHS to qualify for sectionals.

“I was pretty good in the 100,” Erwin said. “Hopefully, I can cut my time down a little bit and see if I could get to the lower 11s, maybe sub 11s.”

Another big highlight for Erwin this year is competing at the University of Kansas Relays, where he finished fifth in the triple jump.

“It was very fun,” Erwin said. “I’m glad we put that on our schedule. At the Kansas Relays, there were national teams. I think there was a team from Nebraska. I got fifth out of all of those teams from all around, so it was very exciting. I’m glad we had more competitive meets this season, like the Bill Summa Meet and the Kansas Relays. I hope we get to go back to those next year.”