SKANEATELES - All it took was one jump, and Josey Witter was no longer an average track and field athlete.

Witter, a long and high jumper, joined the boys team in Skaneateles as a freshman but wasn't at his top form back then. Later in his career he had one good jump and started taking the events much more seriously.

“My freshman year I didn't really try that much,” said Witter, now a senior. “After I figured out I was actually good at something I really focused on it and really tried.”

Lakers coach Jack Reed remembers when Witter began to show signs of improvement.

“It was at the Phoenix Invitational, he did 6-4 there and I realized OK, this guy is legit,” Reed said.

Now, Witter, a Section III indoor long jump champion and high jump runner-up, is chasing school records. He'd especially like to break the school mark of 6-foot-5 in the high jump.

Witter was on track to do just that, but an injury suffered in February has hampered his progress. Less than a week before the state indoor meet he injured his right hamstring. He managed to take eighth in the high jump with a jump of 6-4 - only three inches below the championship jump. Unfortunately, his injury slowed him in the long jump, where he finished 29th.

“In the long jump I did the worst jumping I have ever done,” he said. “In the high jump I still managed to tie my (personal record) - which was amazing.”

Witter has been seeing a personal trainer in Syracuse to help his recovery. He's seeing results and is back into championship form.

“He really did a number on it, and so far it hasn't been hurting me,” Witter said.

The Lakers have gotten an extra boost since Witter returned. Normally a middle-distance and distance track-minded squad, the team is much improved in the field department. Witter joins Shane Aaserud, Jim Peloza, Patrick Rooney and Linus Walton as the five Skaneateles athletes who are ranked in the early-season top four in Section III in their respective events.

“We're generally very weak in the field events, and he's put us in a scoring position in events that we usually just give up,” Reed said. “So he's helped us and he's reliable.” Witter hopes to continue his success at Division III Lynchburg College in Virginia, where he'll double-major in criminology and sociology. He'll have a local connection - former Laker and 10-time All-American James Goss is the women's coach.

For the next few months Witter will concentrate on raising the bar - literally. In Tuesday's tri-meet against Bishop Ludden and Christian Brothers Academy he easily cleared 6-2 in the high jump.

Witter attempted to clear 6-6, but just missed on three attempts. His body made it over without a problem, but his feet clipped the bar each time.

Reed believes the records and the possible championships that go along with them are within Witter's reach.

“He's got a chance, if he stays healthy, to go over 6-6 in the high jump,” Reed said. “It's going to take the right day. He's going to have to feel real good.”