Marble Falls grad O’Riley is NCAA leader with new personal best
Watch Kason O’Riley’s high jump here.
Texas State University high jumper Kason O’Riley cleared 7 feet and 4.5 inches to win the Charlie Thomas Invitational hosted by Texas A&M University Feb. 8.
The 2021 Marble Falls High School graduate needed only one attempt to clear that height. He also cleared 6-10.75 on his first attempt, 7-0.5 on his second attempt, and 7-3 on his first attempt.
The mark not only sets a new personal best and broke the facility record but it also puts O’Riley No. 1 in the NCAA Division I standings and No. 10 in the world rankings of collegiate and professional high jumpers.
His previous best of 7-2.5 came in the same facility two weeks earlier.
He is the Sun Belt Conference Men’s Field Athlete of the Week for the second time this season.
O’Riley, who transferred to Texas State last summer from the University of Arkansas, credits jumps and multis coach Kendall Gustafson Filip for his success. The two have done more high jumping practice and weight lifting sessions.
First, the two studied numerous film on O’Riley, going back to even high school.
“Coach K and I analyzed my jumps from the past few years,” he said. “We went back to my high school approach. That helped me have a better rhythm. It’s getting me closer to the bar and makes me go vertical and jump.”
That’s what aided him in winning the Class 5A state championship in his final year in high school.
The other was a self-belief that he is the best high jumper at every meet.
“My mentality changed,” he said. “That has helped me going into meets. She’s the best coach I’ve ever had. Coach K has helped me so much. Being the guy to beat has changed my mentality.”
He stands 6 feet and 7 inches and weighs 165 pounds, which includes 12 pounds of muscle. He has weighed 175 pounds, which he noted was a challenge in getting over the bar. In high school, he weighed 153 pounds.
“I’m really light,” he said. “I love sitting on that. I don’t have a lick of fat. When I went back to my normal weight, I started to do better.”
He also was grateful to Marble Falls boys head track and field coach Austin Silva
“Shoutout to Silva,” O’Riley said. “That man helped me find my approach. Silva and I might be some of the tightest people.”
He also believes his long-time friends in the Marble Falls area has contributed to his success.
“They’re always there,” he said. “My Marble Falls community supports me. They’re the best. It’s nice being back in Texas. They know how to do mentality.”
