Sullo nails it, but class beckons

May 6, 2010

By Rick Seto, Globe Correspondent

Just as Chris Sullo was reaching new heights with the track-and-field team at Massachusetts Maritime Academy, his focus was pulled back to the classroom.

The sophomore from Canton leaped to a fifth-place finish in the high jump at the New England Division 3 track-and-field championships held last Saturday at Tufts University. With his jump of 6 feet, 4 inches, Sullo tied the second-place leap of Tomas Kearney of Williams, but was placed fifth because of number of misses during the competition.

Sullo qualified for the ECAC championships tomorrow, but will not compete because he has a class conflict that morning. Such is life for a Division 3 student-athlete.

“Once I cleared 6-4 at the New England meet, I felt like I was real close to clearing 6-6. I wish I had another jump at it, but I’m glad I ended the season on a good note,’’ said Sullo.

The 6-foot-1 Sullo had cleared 6-4 while competing indoors at Canton High, but had not reached that height in an outdoor meet; he played baseball instead for the Bulldogs.

Unlike the majority of his competitors at the New England meet on Saturday, Sullo did not have the benefit of an indoor season. Mass Maritime does not field winter sports programs because of its curriculum: The majority of its student-athletes head out to sea after the first of the year. Sullo was also coming off a toe injury that prevented him from playing soccer for the Buccaneers.

“It was clear he had tremendous potential,’’ said co-head track coach Chris Barry. “He has the talent to be a great jumper. It was a matter of fine-tuning the abilities he had.’’

Speeding up his approach also aided his performance late in the season.

“My coaches are always on me maintaining my speed throughout my run up to the bar,’’ said Sullo, whose previous best was 6-3.25 on April 17. “I have pretty good form over the bar; I just had to work on the approach.’’