Cam Combs, a concrete laborer at Mid-States Concrete Industries, was recently named Wisconsin State Champion in the Triple Jump.
Cam Combs, a member of the production team at Mid-States Concrete Industries, recently took first place in the state of Wisconsin for the Triple Jump and second place in the state for the Long Jump.
“It was pretty cool,” Combs said. “I came in and I was confident I was going to win, so it was cool getting up on that podium with everyone.
In order to even compete at the State Championship, Combs had to place in the top four at Regionals and Sectionals. For Triple Jump, Combs placed first at Regionals and first at Sectionals, before taking first at State. For Long Jump, Combs placed fourth at Regionals and second at Sectionals, before taking second at State.
Combs, who will be a senior at Beloit Turner High School in the fall, started with track and field as an eighth grader. He then joined the high school team as a freshman. Unfortunately, because of COVID, his season was cancelled during his sophomore year. And although his junior year was done via remote learning, he was still able to have a full season. In addition to the Triple Jump and Long Jump, Combs also competes in the 100-metre dash and the 200-metre dash.
Training in the off season focuses mostly on weightlifting. During the season, he focuses on sprinting and the first two jumps of the triple jump, as the long jump is hard on the knees. Combs’ best time in the 100-metre dash is 11.1-seconds, and for the 200-metre dash, it’s 22.2-seconds. Combs currently holds the school record for the Long Jump at 22-feet 6-inches.
In addition to dominating in track and field, Combs was also on the Varsity Football Team and the Varsity Basketball Team. In fact, he took first team all-conference for defensive back. He also finished his junior year with a 4.0, while also working 20-hours/week at Mid-States during the school year. For the summer, he is working full-time. Basically, his days were work, school, and practice.
“I think practice is pretty fun,” Combs said, when asked what he does for fun. He added that his friends are also part of the track and field team.
While there’s no denying Combs works hard, he also credits Coach Nolan Otremba, and his parents Jaron and Carey Combs, with helping him succeed.
Combs has already set his sights on some big goals for his upcoming senior year. He wants to win first place in the state for both Triple Jump and Long Jump; set the school and state records for the Triple Jump; and go to state and place for the 100-metre and 200-metre events. He already holds the school record in Long Jump. Combs plans to continue his track career beyond high school and is already exploring colleges.