Pakk's pack of jumpers is unrivaled

 CEDAR RAPIDS -- An interview was winding down, and Cedar Rapids Kennedy boys' track coach Brian White interrupted:"You can't overlook that guy over there. He's the best in the state. He's forgotten more about track and field than most coaches ever learn."He's a genius."White was pointing at assistant coach Curt Pakkebier, whose stable of jumpers (and hurdlers) make the Cougars a viable threat to push Linn-Mar and Waukee in the Class 4A title race in May.Led by long jump champion Derek Jacobus, Kennedy scored 23 field-event points last year on its way to a fourth-place finish.All those points are back, and that total should increase this time around.Jacobus (a UNI recruit) and Famiek Cook went 1-3 in the long jump. Willie Rhoads was third in the high jump. Drew Heitland was eighth in the shot put."It's no coincidence that our jumps are our prime-time events," Jacobus said. "Coach Pakk knows what he's doing."Cook said, "You have to trust him, because he's sees something before it happens."Pakkebier was a 23-foot long jumper at Central College. He has been involved with the Kennedy track program for 14 years.It's possible that the jumps alone could net the Cougars at least 30 state points."We plan to go 1-2 (in the long jump)," Cook said.It almost happened last year. Jacobus took the lead for good with a leap of 22-10 1/4 on his final preliminary jump. Cook was sitting second at 22-1 3/4 before Dequavious Martin of Waterloo West bettered him on his final attempt."Derek and me, we're really competitive," Cook said. "We're friends, best friends. He's like a brother to me. But when it's competition time, we're competitors. One of us has to win, and one of us has to get beat."I was pretty upset last year, but I was happy for Derek. This year, I have something up my sleeve."Jacobus is a four-sport athlete, a big-school rarity these days. He's just getting his steps down after a basketball season went long; Jacobus started for the Cougars' state-tournament team.Last year's title came after a junior season riddled with shoulder and ankle injuries. This year, he has dealt with kidney disease, and the medication that is fighting it."My creatinine-to-blood ratio is getting better," Jacobus said. "But I don't feel quite as strong right now."Assuming his strength returns, Jacobus has his sights set on the school record, an even 23 feet.Rhoads and sophomore Shawn Beyer give Kennedy a potential elite duo in the high jump. Both have cleared 6 feet, 3 inches in the indoor season, and both rank in the top five in all classes."I'd like to go 6-10," said Rhoads, who has been battling a bruised heel. "I think Shawn and I can get us a lot of points."Beyer was 10th last year as a freshman.Jacobus, Beyer and Cook all figure to be on a shuttle hurdle relay unit that could contend for state gold. That's another event under Pakkebier's eye.As for Heitland, five of the seven competitors that out-threw him at state have graduated. And his indoor effort of 50-0 1/2 is already better than what he threw at state last year.White is now the Kennedy head football coach, and he's is putting on the push for his players to compete in track. He said Wednesday that the Cougars' track roster is above 100."Track's good for all athletes, and for all sports," he said.