Nesmith Sets High School Triple Jump Record

Miles Nesmith set a new high school triple jump record of 55-1 (16.79m) at the World U20 Championships in Eugene a few weeks ago. The Memphis Central graduate won a silver medal, but was defeated by his future Kansas State teammate, Michael-Andre Edwards of Jamaica.

Nesmith described the moment as bittersweet. He had wanted to win. Later, he reflected on becoming the first high schooler to surpass 55 feet, setting a national record, and achieving three personal bests in one competition. "I didn't come out there and underperform in any way," he told Track and Field News.

The loss was notable because Edwards had also beaten Nesmith earlier in 2026 at the Penn Relays. According to Morcellous Harris, Nesmith's coach at Youth Track & Field of Memphis, Edwards is the first jumper he can recall beating Nesmith twice. "If you beat him, he really comes back extra focused," Harris said.

The Record-Setting Battle

The competition in Eugene became an immediate duel. Nesmith took an early lead with a jump of 53-6½ (16.32m). Edwards then moved ahead. Nesmith responded with a personal best of 54-3¼ (16.54m) to reclaim the lead briefly. Edwards answered with a 16.71m jump on his fifth attempt.

"I'd never jumped that far before," Nesmith said. The challenge pushed him to a new record of 55-1 (16.79m). Edwards, however, had the final word in the fifth round, leaping 56-½ (17.08m). Nesmith attempted a 17-meter jump on his final try, a season-long goal, but his form broke down.

Coach Harris, watching from home, was amazed. He had witnessed the previous record being set 22 years earlier. "I actually saw Hall set the old record in person," Harris said, referring to Kenny Hall's 54-10¼ (16.72m) jump in 2004. He compared the Eugene battle to watching Christian Taylor and Will Claye compete as Florida teammates, calling it "the most exciting triple jump competition I've seen in a long while."

A Multi-Event Talent

While the triple jump is his focus, Nesmith is a talented multi-event athlete. He won the Nike Outdoor long jump title in 2025. He has high jumped 6-10 or better several times, including a best of 7-2½ in 2025. He once scored 6262 points in a modified Tennessee decathlon that substituted triple jump for javelin.

Harris believed the high jump could have been Nesmith's best event. "It kind of comes easy for him," the coach said. The triple jump was more difficult to master. Nesmith was drawn to its complexity. "The triple jump has got to be my favorite just because there's so many different aspects to it," he explained. His high school coaches, who had previously developed a state record holder, saw his potential in the event.

Harris credits Nesmith's mental strength for his success. "He's able to process adversity and move to the next step," he said. Nesmith agrees, emphasizing the mental side of track. "You have to move on, take what you can from it to improve the next one," he said of jumping competitions. Participation in the Nike Elite program after his junior year shifted his mindset, removing mental limits on what he could achieve.

That shift solidified his goal of jumping 17 meters. He will now pursue that ambition at Kansas State alongside Edwards, joining an elite horizontal jumps group coached by Clive Pullen and Travis Geopfert. Reflecting on their battle, Nesmith said, "I don't think if either one of us wasn't in the competition jumping the way we were, the other one probably wouldn't have jumped as far." They have since talked about dominating the collegiate level.

Coach Harris believes the 17-meter target will soon be obsolete. "If you interview him after... probably November... once he gets up there to K-State, he'll probably say 18m!" he predicted. For more on emerging talents, see our squad and stats pages.