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02/27/2018 11:00 PMJosh Donahue is never afraid to attempt something new. When he joined the Valley Regional track program, Josh tried his hand in a variety of events, and found that he excelled in the high jump. During the recent indoor track season, Josh took third place in the high jump at the Shoreline Conference Championship with a height of 5 feet-6 inches and then cleared that same height to tie for 10th place in the Class S State Championship. The senior also earned sixth in the shot put at Shorelines with a throw of 36-10.75.
Postseason indoor track meets can be challenging when athletes who normally spread out during the outdoor season have to occupy a smaller space in a building. So when Josh lines up for big jumps like he did at Shorelines and states, he tries to drown out all the distractions that are buzzing around him.
“During indoor, there’s a lot of people everywhere. You know people are watching you. I block everyone out and focus on me,” Josh says. “I like to count my steps when I run up, so I focus on something that’s not other people.”
Josh isn’t your prototypical high jumper in that he’s not tall and limber. Josh played running back and outside linebacker on the Warriors’ football squad, and his build reflects that. Consequently, when he converges on his spot and gets ready to leap, Josh uses a different method that was taught to him by indoor track Head Coach Chris Allegretti and former outdoor track Head Coach Tim King, who also coaches the football team.
“Instead of using a five-step approach, I use a three-step,” says Josh. “Coach King and Coach Allegretti say I’m a power jumper. I have to explode up with the momentum of a few steps. Then I rely on the form I’ve been taught by my coaches over the years to get up and over.”
Josh met Coach King on the football field before he ever set foot on a track. Josh started his track career as a means to train for football during the offseason. After he gave several events a try, Josh found that he enjoyed the sport more than just as a way to build speed and agility.
“Coach King told me if I wanted to take it to the next level, I should go out for the track team to keep training in the offseason,” says Josh, a Deep River resident. “It started as training for football, but I tried all these events, and it became really fun, and now I do it for pleasure.”
Even though Josh enjoys track, improving is still a rigorous job. Josh didn’t immediately succeed as a jumper, but he liked the sensation of hanging in the air.
“The first few meets, I wasn’t too good at it. I put in the time and started to enjoy it,” Josh says. “High jump is great…You get to fly for a few moments, and that’s something I just fell in love with.”
Josh trains hard with each of his teams, and Coach Allegretti says he appreciates Josh’s work ethic in the weight room. Allegretti feels that Josh’s presence there sets an example for the underclassmen on the squad.
“Josh has done extraordinarily well, and he works hard. He’s a monster in the weight room, and he’s in there every single day. He’s definitely a senior leader on the team,” says Coach Allegretti. “He puts the time and effort into his jumping. He’ll try anything and work hard at it. He’s a great kid.”
Josh gets to spend even more time lifting and working out in the weight room during the indoor track season, since practicing the high jump outside isn’t really an option.
“I do a lot of work in the weight room,” says Josh. “Coach Allegretti sent me stuff for individualized workouts that I can do in the absence of being able to train outside.”
In terms of his future, Josh plans on spending more time in the weight room to prepare for a potential career in personal training. Josh hopes to stay in New England, and he already has an option to study what he wants at Plymouth State University in New Hampshire.
“I love seeing the younger kids in the weight room. To see them in there is awesome, so I can lift with them. It’s a passion to help other people strive in a sport that I play in. I’ve always wanted to become a personal trainer,” says Josh, who thanks Allegretti and King, as well as his parents, Brandy and Chris, for their support. “Right now, I am in the process of applying to colleges, and I was already accepted to Plymouth State. I know they have exercise majors that would allow me to get the certs I need to fulfill my goal. I’m trying to find a school with the best education I can get.”