ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Iola native Joshua Honeycutt is a national champion.
Honeycutt, who turns 24 Thursday, brought home the gold medal Sunday in the men’s triple jump at the USA Indoor Track and Field Championships.
Honeycutt cleared 54 feet, 5 ¼ inches in his sixth and final jump, beating his nearest competitor by nearly six inches in the process.
“I just kept telling myself I was going to win,” Honeycutt said in a telephone interview. “I wrote it down. Everything I told myself wound up happening.”
Honeycutt, an Iola High School and Emporia State University graduate, competed for the Phoenix Elite, a professional track team out of Phoenix.
Honeycutt competes while studying for his master’s degree in health promotion, physical education and recreation at ESU, through online courses.
He also works at a local Boys and Girls Club to supplement his income.
The goal, Honeycutt said, is to continue to pursue a potential overseas track and field career.
“The pay for track and field isn’t as high in the United States as it is for other sports,” Honeycutt said. “However, you can make a good living in Europe. Canada also pays well.”
Events like Sunday can help clear a path to Europe, Honeycutt said, as agents and track teams become aware of his success.
Honeycutt trains a short distance from Arizona State University, which fields one of the top-ranked track and field programs in the country.
“I’ve competed against some of the top triple jumpers in the nation, as well as former Olympians,” he said.
Honeycutt is the son of Iolans Phil and Gina Honeycutt.
Iolan is triple jump champ
