You could say Chris Copeland got into high jumping through a couple of breaks….of his arm. 

Prior to transferring from Nansemond River High to Lakeland, the senior had a thing for basketball.  He could easily dunk, but the problem was on two occasions, he broke his arm. 

“I was told I should hang it up and put on some track cleats”, he says. 

That suggestion came from Cavaliers track coach, Greg Roundtree, who’s jokingly told him, “Everytime I go in the gym and he’s there, he’s got about five seconds to get off the court.”  

Sounds like a coach who’s like family.  Roundtree was a childhood friend of Copeland’s mother, Audrey.

Copeland’s got the talent.  During this past indoor season, he became just the second high school athlete in the nation to clear seven feet.  He also became just the fifth athlete in Virginia High School League to do it as well.  

Roundtree thinks that with the right college program, Copeland could be an Olympian.  

In case your wondering the current world record in the high jump is 8’ ½ “ by Cuba’s Javier Sotomayor. 

Copeland isn’t thinking that far ahead just yet, but says, “If a whale can propel himself 18 feet in the air, I can get 7’7” if I work hard.” 

And get the right break (no pun intended).