EDMONDS — His name contains many letters, but Everett High School track and field athlete Shukurani Ndayiragije is a man of few words when the discussion topic turns toward his jumping ability.
“You could talk to him for three hours, and you wouldn’t know anything about his jumps,” said fellow Everett jumper Isaiah White, a Herald All-Area basketball player who is participating in track for the first time this season. “He’s real quiet about it. He’s so humble.”
When introducing himself, he leads with what is commonly known as his last name followed by his first, pronouncing it “In-dye-lrah-gee-jay Shoe-kuh-rah-ni”
Most people call him Shuku.
Everett jump coach Shemonta Dean calls him a contender to win three events at the state meet, which begins May 23 at Mount Tahoma H.S. in Tacoma.
“The goal this year is to win state,” said Dean, who works with long and triple jumpers. “Last year, we wanted to get certain marks. This year it’s winning, and he came in with that mindset.”
Ndayiragije competed in just one event at Thursday’s Wesco meet against Lynnwood and Edmonds-Woodway, breezing to victory in the triple jump with a mark of 46 feet, 9 1/2 inches at a rainy, windy Edmonds District Stadium. His best marks this season rank him first (high jump, 6-8), second (triple jump, Thursday’s mark) and sixth (long jump, 22-2 1/2) in Class 3A.
Though he wasn’t jumping as much as usual on Thursday, Ndayiragije kept busy walking around the stadium counseling teammates — including White, who finished second in the long jump and triple jump. He knows the weeks ahead matter most.
“I just have to continue to work hard at practice, and do whatever I can to improve,” said Ndayiragije, who has lived in the area for most of his life after being born in Tanzania.
The Seagulls coaching staff’s plan is to see Ndayiragije peak in the high jump, long jump and triple jump at state. Ndayiragije expects to participate in all three jump events at Saturday’s Tomahawk Classic before the four week gauntlet of the Everett City Championships (May 3), Wesco 3A North Championships (May 8-10), District 1 3A Championships (May 15-17) and the WIAA state meet on Memorial Day weekend.
Though he’s on board with the program, coaches say less practice and reduced meet participation is not always the easiest thing to sell to their star jumper.
“He will jump for two hours straight,” high jump coach Gary Davis said. “Sometimes you have to stop that dude and say, ‘That’s enough.”
Head coach Nick Clovsky believed he had something special when he saw an athletic, lanky sophomore basketball player join the track team for the first time. He knew he needed Dean and Davis to help Ndayiragije reach his potential.
“We’re super proud to have him representing our program,” Clovsky said. “(Dean and Davis) have done a tremendous job with him. What a great opportunity as a coach to work with a kid who’s elite.”
In other events Thursday, Edmonds-Woodway’s Naomi Limb won the girls 100- and 200-meter races in 12.73 seconds and 26.48, respectively. She also anchored the Warriors’ victorious 400 relay (52.13) and 800 relay (1:48.77).
Lynnwood’s Shayden McIntyre won the boys 100 (11.05) and participated on the Royals’ winning 400 relay (43.90) and 800 relay (1:37.53) teams. His fellow Royals dominated in the throwing events. Luke Francois won the boys shot put (44-11) and the javelin (146-0), while Ena Dodik placed first in the girls shot put (31-8) and discus (124-0).
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