Lloyd hopes to raise bar at NCAAs

PORTALES — Kenneth Lloyd is hoping to raise the bar — literally and figuratively — when he competes this week in Charlotte.

For the Eastern New Mexico senior, the NCAA Division II outdoor track and field championships mark the high jumper's final event as a college athlete.

"To be honest, the way I've been looking lately, and seeing how close the competition is (coming into this event), I've been practicing really hard and I could definitely win it," Lloyd said. "I always had a goal of 2.20 (meters) or 7-2. Anything there or better would be an accomplishment for me. I never sell myself short."

Lloyd has carried the momentum from indoor season, in which he won the Lone Star Conference high jump title and finished third in the NCAA Division II Indoor Championships, into the outdoor season. He helped the Greyhounds finish 13th overall, despite the team being himself and sophomore sprinter Marcus Parker.

Lloyd opened the 2018 outdoor season with a victory at the ENMU Open (6-8), before placing second at the Texas Relays (6-10.75). He then won at the New Mexico Junior College Ross Black Invitational (6-8.75), before a third-place finish at the West Texas A&M Invitational (6-6.75).

Lloyd then tied for first at the Abilene Christian Oliver Jackson Twilight Meet (6-9), while taking second-place at the LSC Outdoor Championships (7-0.25). Recently, he earned another second place at the West Texas A&M Last Chance Meet (6-11.50), a couple weeks back.

And while those numbers seem to be all over the map, there's a good reason for it. "As a competitor, when there's more competition, you're more likely to do better at bigger meets," Lloyd explained.

"At (the LSC Championship) and Texas Relays, you'll put up bigger numbers. But at the other meets, after one or two jumps, I've pretty much won the competition. Plus, the weather didn't always allow me to jump at every meet. (But overall) I wasn't too worried (about my high jump results being lower at some meets)."

Lloyd certainly doesn't lack in confidence, and when you're ranked sixth in the nation and putting up strong numbers as of late, it's hard not to be. The senior takes pride in being part of the vaunted '7-foot club' and he says that his confidence really started to rise back during the indoor season, as his mindset started to change and he knew he could jump higher and higher.

Lloyd will face some stiff competition this week, however, as his 2.14-meter qualifying number puts him behind five others, who all have jumps between 2.15 and 2.17 meters. In other words, his 7 1/4-foot jump at the LSC Championships is just over a foot shy of No. 1-ranked Tyler Russell. The Angelo State freshman's highest jump is 7-1.50, ironically recorded when he beat out Lloyd for the LSC title, earlier this month.

Despite the competition, Lloyd doesn't really worry about anyone else in particular, just himself.

"All I know is I'm gonna try to put as much pressure on the competition as I can," Lloyd said.

As for the weekend being an end to his collegiate career, it's not really much of a focus right now.

"I don't really think about it like that," Lloyd said. "I don't let it weigh on my emotions. I'm gonna go into it as just another meet, and do what I can do. I'm sure the emotions will hit me later on."