One more time.
New Westminster-born Mike Mason is taking it one meet at a time, one high jump at a time – and admits the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics is his main motivation.
“At this point, I think that’s kind of a good end-game,” Mason said following Tuesday’s high jump event at the Harry Jerome International Track Classic in Burnaby. “I’m working with a new coach right now, this is my second year with him, and last year was, I feel, one of the best years in my career just in terms of my international competitions.”
At 31, Mason is facing younger and younger competitors, but his recent results have shown he still has more to give.
Tuesday, however, gave him a few moments of consternation as the three-time Canadian Olympian came up short on his first two attempts at 2.16 metres before getting into a groove. He would end up winning the event at 2.21m.
“I was really hoping I would get a good rhythm going but unfortunately I wasn’t quite there. I was definitely struggling with consistency today. I feel like I got a second chance at 2.16m so I’m at least happy to get over 2.21. I have to be happy with that. It would have been nice to get that 2.26.”
Born in New West, Mason grew up in Nanoose Bay and began his track journey in Grade 5. He turned his focus to the high jump a few years later and would make it his major pursuit, beginning with the 2004 IAAF World junior title, followed by NAIA, national and world medals.
In the run-up to the 2016 Rio Olympics, Mason captured silver at the Pan American Games and bronze at the Commonwealth Games. In Rio, he placed 18th, falling short of equalling his best Olympiad result, eighth, at the 2012 London Games.
Nine weeks ago, he placed sixth at the Commonwealth Games in Australia, and six weeks ago he cleared 2.32m in Victoria for the third-best jump on the IAAF’s 2018 World list. Just last week, he jumped 2.28m at a Calgary meet, giving him more evidence that there’s more in the tank. With his personal best of 2.33 coming just three years ago, Mason feels that distance is within reach.
“I felt as strong as I’ve ever felt this year, and that’s enough for me personally to keep going, to say ‘Hey, my body, I can still get to that level, I’m feeling better than I did when I was younger.’”
He gives a lot of the credit for the rejuvenation to coach Jeff Huntoon, who he began working with two years ago. Mason has also begun working with a strength and conditioning coach, helping extend his run for Tokyo.
In a few weeks he’ll head to Ottawa for the national championships, where as the defending national champion he’ll face more pressure.
But it can’t hold a candle to the heat he feels while competing at the Harry Jerome, so close to home and with a lot of family and friends in the crowd.
“Honestly, it’s kind of stressful, because there are a lot of people here that I know,” Mason said. “I lately haven’t jumped really well here and I think I let the pressure get to me a little bit. Even more so than the big meets, even the Olympics and world championships.
“I don’t know what it is about here. I almost went out at 2.16 today and that’s ridiculous. I keep coming back though. I love it here.”
Also competing at the Jerome Classic on Tuesday were New West natives Bogdan Pavel, in the men’s 110-metre hurdles, and Grace Fetherstonhaugh, in the 800m women’s under-20 division.
Pavel, a member of the UBC track program, finished sixth with a time of 14.67 seconds, while Fetherstonhaugh was among the leaders midway through her race before finishing fifth, with a time of 2:16.08, just over four seconds back of second.
