Manitoba's jumps group had a big showing during day one of the Athletics Manitoba Last Chance Meet at James Daly Fieldhouse, which will host U SPORTS Track and Field Nationals March 5-7. Third-years Adebare Adegbosin and Enoch Amolegbe and rookie Matthew Chow all set personal bests in the triple jump, with Adegbosin auto qualifying for nationals with a personal best of 14.99m. Amolegbe and Chow both jumped 14.05m. 

Adegbosin's jump of 14.99 on attempt two more than eclipsed the U SPORTS auto standard of 14.85m, and is also the longest jump in the country so far. Amolegbe and Chow are currently tied for third in the nation. Five jumpers so far this year have leaped over 14m, with three coming from the Herd. Undefeated Canada West champion Daxx Turner -- who also owns a full set of medals in the triple jump at nationals -- is competing in the heptathlon all weekend after opening his season in the long jump the weekend prior. 

"It's community. It's family. These are my brothers," said Adegbosin of Manitoba's deep jumps group. "I come to practice every day and everyone is here to bounce ideas off of."

Adegbosin's opener was particularly impressive, considering the background circumstances. Last year's Canada West silver medalist in the triple, he's been battling a significant injury since August, and was studying all day to prepare for two exams tomorrow. 

"I just wanted to put one out there. It was my first meet of the year. I haven't jumped at all this season. I just wanted to see where I'm at," he admitted. 

"When I was gone [with injury], I wasn't really away from the track. I would still be here watching. Once I found my stride, it just felt like home. I got that itch."
 

A Fort Richmond alum, Adegbosin has a long history of adaptability in the sport. He didn't start competing until late in his senior year, originally giving track a try as a way to supplement his skills as a basketball player. His story is not unlike that of assistant coach Gee-ef Nkwonta, a fellow Centurions grad who also played basketball and picked up the sport late in high school. 

"One thing about me, is I can jump, so I liked dunking. But I wasn't really fast. I wanted to do track in my last two weeks of high school, so my gym teacher was like you should do long jump, triple jump and high jump. I did all three and I found out I like triple jump best."

Adegbosin claimed silver at provincials in triple jump, which is also where he met renowned Bisons coach Mingpu Wu. The rest is history. Adegbosin has taken the lessons he's been given, and applied them, proving that the sky is the limit. He earned silver as a sophomore with the Herd, bronze at the Canada Games this past summer, and has now secured his ticket to nationals, the first Bison to auto qualify so far. 
 

"It's a lot about rhythm. Everyone has their own unique rhythm. It takes time to figure that out and having that down in your mind," he said.

"Every day I come to practice and I'm trying to be the best version of me. I know where I was yesterday and two months ago and I'm trying to beat that version today."