The bar rests on its uprights as the runway clears. A loud silence takes place over the arena as WCHS senior Bakari Taylor begins his approach, getting faster stride by stride before launching himself into the air. He clears the bar cleanly, landing on the mat as teammates erupt in celebration. In that moment, Taylor secures his place in county history as the all-time MCPS indoor high jump record holder.
“I did not even realize I broke the record until the day after the meet,” Taylor said. “I was just excited to finally be improving again after hitting a plateau my sophomore year. Clearing that bar felt like breaking a mental barrier.”
Taylor’s path to the high jump began between eighth grade and his freshman year, first influenced by his family’s love for track and field and an introduction to the event during his eighth-grade physical education class. What began as casual exposure quickly grew into a special passion as he stepped onto the track at the high school level.
“The moment I realized high jump could be something special for me was my first high school meet,” Taylor said. “I jumped five feet [and] 10 inches with no practice, and later that year I cleared six feet and went to nationals.”
Now, with his name permanently written into the Montgomery County record books, Taylor still finds it surreal to reflect on how far he has come since he began his journey. What once felt unimaginable has become a defining moment of his athletic career.
“It is not something I ever imagined when I first started,” Taylor said. “Having my name attached to county history is a great feeling.”
Behind the record-setting performances is a demanding training schedule built around speed, technique and consistency. Throughout the season, Taylor balances sprint workouts, high jump-specific sessions and strength training to keep his body sharp and explosive.
“A typical week for me looks like four to six days of speed work and two days focused on high jump,” Taylor said. “On some days I also lift or do plyometrics to build power.”
Taylor’s strong mental approach to competition is just as important to his performance. Before major jump attempts, he focuses on ensuring that he has slowed his breathing and is prepared mentally well before his name is called so he can rely on muscle memory when it matters most.
“When I know a big jump is coming, I prepare early so I do not overthink it,” Taylor said. “Once I am called up, I just let my body do what it knows how to do.”
Taylor credits much of his development to the support system around him, particularly his coaches, who have played a major role in refining his technique and helping him overcome obstacles.
“My coaches are vital to my development,” Taylor said. “Without them, I would not have caught the issues holding me back or made the progress I have.”
As the season continues and the spring season also nears, Taylor remains focused on pushing his limits and setting even higher goals for himself. He is now chasing an even more rare clearance and a high honor at nationals, motivated by the same love for the sport that first drew him in.
“My biggest goal this year is to clear seven feet and become an All-American,” Taylor said. “To do that, I am focusing on training smarter and taking care of my body.”
In athletics, it is easy to balk at the work needed for development when one is not fully bought into the process or having fun. Taylor emphasizes the importance of finding joy in the process and staying consistent, lessons he has learned throughout his own journey.
“When something is fun, it is easier to stay consistent,” Bakari said. “If you love what you are doing, the work never feels forced.”
