Track & Field | 3/10/2022 9:26:00 AM

MOORHEAD – Shyrone Kemp has already been an All-American in the triple jump, and this week, he has his sets sight even higher.
 
The Minnesota State University Moorhead junior finished fifth at the NCAA Division II Indoor Championships in 2021 to attain All-American honors. He also qualified for nationals in 2020, but Covid-19 cancelled the indoor national championships.
 
Kemp won the long jump and triple jump at the NSIC Indoor Track and Field Championships in February. But this week, is solely on the triple jump, an event he earned All-American honors indoors in 2021, and he's got a number in mind – clearly 16 meters (52-6).
 
Kemp is ranked third in the event going into the championships, thanks to a school-record setting jump of 51-9 he attained at the UND Open in Grand Forks on Jan. 28. That jump broke the school record that he had set at the 2021 NSIC Indoor Championships by more than 18 inches
 
"That day, I had one event, so I was just focused on that one," Kemp said.  "Going into the event, my coach asked me how I felt, and 'Coach I'm feeling great. I feel like I was about to do something historical.' I just went out there and put it together."
 
Working with Trevor Barry, a multi-time Olympian and Dragon assistant coach, has helped Kemp's progression.
 
"He's helped me the entire way," Kemp said. "It's good working with him, he has knowledge of basically every event."
 
"Overall speed and strength levels -- that's been his biggest component," Barry said. "Shy has so much more potential. The sky is the limit for him."
 
Barry and Kemp both said a jump of 16 meters – which would be a school record and clear more than 52 feet – is in his sights.
 
"The first time, it was just to feel it out," Kemp said of nationals. "This time, I feel like I can do something. My goal is to execute like I have been doing in practice and reach that 16-meter mark."