CORTLAND — Jamie Carrino got out a stepladder and climbed up, near the Champion long jump pit.

It served a purpose.

The long jump coach held out a PVC pipe with a paper towel sticking out at the end, dangling out near the gathering of sand.

“They all get a kick out of it,” Carrino said. “I think it helps them with their ups and trying not to worry so much about getting to the last quarter inch or inch right before the jump line. It’s more important to get the leaps, get the vertical more.”

That would contribute to that ah-ha moment for Champion junior Carter Mast midway through the season.

He barely got past 17 feet last season. Thursday, he jumped 20 feet, 6.75 inches to take second in the Division II Lakeview District boys long jump.

Mast had one good jump this regular season, prior to Thursday’s district meet.

“Coach told me shorten up my stride,” Mast said. “It wasn’t a stutter step, but I threw my foot down early and I got more oomph out of it. I had more power. I got higher. I used that to carry myself farther.

“I didn’t know exactly if that was the steps. I kind of figured it out a few weeks ago, it was the steps. I’ve been more consistent with it.”

Next up, this week’s Austintown Regional. The top four from the district levels advanced here.

Champion freshman Kaylee Gania, who stands around 5 feet tall, used all of her wiry body and strength to vault herself past the field during Saturday morning’s girls long jump. She went 15-9 during prelims and jumped 15-11.5 to take the district title.

She followed the same path Mast did on Thursday, get some air under her leaps.

“I tried to jump up,” Gania said.

Everything has to be clicking at the right moment, especially for Mast. Jumps between 21 and 22 feet should advance to state.

Champion’s Noah Bayus, who had a breakout season last year and took fifth at state, is competing for Youngstown State University. He surpassed the 22-foot mark.

The board at Austintown is skinnier than what Mast is used to seeing. Carrino has a plan, paint the Champion board and simulate the one at Fitch — about three-quarters of the Golden Flashes’ board.

Can Mast get to state? It’s possible.

“With his work ethic, he could do it,” Carrino said. “He’s peaking at the right time. He has some adrenaline going into practice, jumping over 20 feet today. That and feeling that confidence, he can do it. Why not?”

The focus. It’s going to be there.

Mast doesn’t want to cloud his thoughts. He wants to run as hard as he can and not think of anything.

“When I get a good pop off the board, I can feel the jump,” he said. “Whenever I know I put everything together, I know I got a good jump. That’s what I try to go for, that feeling.”

Gania had a feeling she’d have a shot at winning the district title, but didn’t know she was going to win. She also advanced to the regional in another event, finishing fourth in the 100.

For this freshman to get to state, which means placing in the top four at regional competition, she’ll likely have to get another personal best jump. According to last year’s regional meet, she would have to go at least 16-6.

Her leaps at Austintown are just the beginning.

“We have high hopes for her,” Carrino said. “It’s unbelievable, a freshman doing what she’s doing.”

It all started with a paper towel hanging from a PVC pipe, dangling over a long jump pit.