FRUITPORT – For Fruitport’s Nathan Carlisle, one big secret to success in the long jump has been making sure to “pop the board.”

That’s the launch board that sits at the end of the running track, just before the sand jump pit. Athletes use it to spring themselves forward into their jump.

Before this season, Carlisle said he wasn’t hearing that pop when he hit the board, and he had limited success in the long jump as a freshman and sophomore.

This year, as a junior, Carlisle has learned to hit the board a little harder before he leaps, and it’s made a world of difference.

Fruitport long jumper Nathan Carlisle

In five Fruitport track meets this season, Carlisle has taken first place in four of them, and his jumps just keep getting longer.

He started the season by taking first place against Allendale with a 19-feet, 2.5-inch jump, which was a career best for Carlisle.

He regressed a bit in the Fruitport Invitational, jumping 19 feet, 2 inches and taking third in field of talented competitors.

Carlisle returned to first place in a meet against Hudsonville Unity Christian, even though his jump was down a bit at 17 feet, 7.5 inches.

Carlisle approaches the end of the runway during the long jump competition at Spring Lake on Tuesday.

He returned to form in a meet against Coopersville, taking first place with a personal record jump of 19 feet, five inches.

Then on Tuesday at Spring Lake, Carlisle really lit it up, taking first yet again with a very impressive new personal record of 20 feet, 5.5 inches.

So how did a kid who really didn’t do a lot in the long jump last season suddenly become so dominant?

“I just learned more about it,” said Carlisle, who seems to have a really good shot at qualifying for the state finals this year.  “My coach (Fruitport long jump instructor Leti Longoria) taught me how to throw my body more – full speed, don’t look, pop the board, throw your hips and throw your arms.

“When you hit the board you’ve got to hear the pop. I was helping middle school kids the other day, and I was teaching them to pop the board.”

Carlisle said he’s been surprised and pleased by how much he’s improved. Before this season his personal best was 18 feet, 2 inches, and he did not expect to do that much better this spring.

He hadn’t worked on long jumping at all in the offseason, but he did play other sports, including varsity basketball, and the conditioning obviously helped.

“When I came in, Coach said I was going to PR, I said ‘I don’t know,’ then I got surprised,” said Carlisle, who also runs on the 4×100 and 4×200-meter relay teams. “My first meet I was at 19-2.

“I think it was just from being in the weight room, all the basketball practices and the other sports I did.”

Carlisle’s performance this spring has been one of the bright spots for the Fruitport boys track team, which is having a bit of a rebuilding season and is still looking for its first dual meet victory.

“He is someone who has always been determined to climb the ladder,” said Fruitport boys head track coach Tim McKeeby. “Almost every meet we’re in he’s near the top. He’s been very impressive. Against some top teams he’s been number one.

“I think this is the first year he’s really scored a lot of points for us. He wants to get better. It’s a great year for him to hit that success. He still has one more season left, he’s a team captain and it’s just been a great season for him.”