Soaring to New Heights: Hancock's Brent Dionisio Seeks Redemption and State Title

A decision to spend one year away from competition is paying huge dividends for Allan Hancock College track and field's Brent Dionisio. The Pioneer Valley High School graduate ranks second among all community college high jumpers in California with a top clearance of 6 feet, 9 inches. He has finished in second place or higher in every meet this season, including first-place finishes the last three weeks. It represents a big change from the results he saw his freshman season at Hancock in 2015.

"I was very inconsistent and disappointed my freshman season. I spent this last year in the weight room every day determined to get stronger," said Dionisio, whose top clearance as a freshman was 6 feet, 5 inches. "The last year helped add fuel to my fire. I was determined to come back this year to redeem myself, have fun and meet my expectations."

The sophomore set a personal-record clearance of 6 feet, 9 inches two weeks ago when he won the high jump at the Cal Poly Invitational, defeating 10 other jumpers from four-year, Division I universities.

"I just tried to treat it like any other meet and not focus on the fact other athletes were from four-year universities. I just did my thing and jumped well," he added.

Last week, Dionisio cleared 6 feet, nine inches again to win the high jump at the Western State Conference's Coastal Meet. On top of that, he set a new personal best of 21 feet, five inches to win the long jump event that day. He says he remains on track to reach his ultimate objectives.

"My goal is to be the Western State Conference, Southern California and State champion," said Dionisio, who still holds the Pac 7 League record of 6 feet, 8 inches in the high jump. "I feel like if I stay focused and keep working harder each day that I can do it."

San Diego Mesa's Tyler Arroyo leads the state by half-an-inch over Dionisio with a mark of six feet, 9.5 inches.

Hancock assistant coach Nick Puckett works with the team's jumpers. He described Dionisio as a very patient and focused jumper who constantly reviews video of his jumps. Puckett said it is uncommon to find a 5-foot-10-inch jumper, like Dionisio, who can jump a foot over his height.

"To get his hip to the bar at that level takes muscle and technique. He's put in a lot of hard work over the last year to improve in both of those areas," said Puckett. "Brent returned this year with more intensity and a sense that he can do this. I think he can clear seven feet. I know he's got it in him."

Dionisio will graduate from Hancock this spring with an associate degree in liberal arts: social and behavioral studies. He is already talking to a few four-year universities interested in him as a student-athlete. He plans to transfer in the fall and major in health science.