They say that records are made to be broken.
Well, the records set by Weber State’s Charles Clinger in the high jump at the 2001 Big Sky Conference Indoor and Outdoor Championships have yet to be broken, and may not be for a long time.
Clinger, who started his career in 1996 at Boise State before going on an LDS Mission and then transferring to Weber State, ranks 40th on the Big Sky’s “50 Greatest Male Athletes.”
“I think it is fantastic,” said Clinger. “It is a tremendous honor, especially to know all the fantastic and great athletes that have come through over a long time. And all those schools that people remember who you were and what you did.”
Clinger won four Big Sky indoor championships in the high jump. He won his first in 1996 while at Boise State. From 1999-01, he won three more at Weber State. Clinger missed the Outdoor Championship in 1996 because of an ankle injury.
“I loved Boise State,” said Clinger. “I was really excited to be there. Ed Jacoby, one of the best high jump coaches in history, was there. He taught me so much. So much of that carried through my career.”
“I had a great year but got injured at the end of the year,” added Clinger. “I hurt my ankle really badly to where I couldn’t compete at the outdoor championships my freshman year. Ed Jacoby retired that year, and a new coach came in for one year at Boise. I told him I was going to go on a mission, but the honest truth was I was told not to come back if I left. I was told not to come back by the new coach Randy Mayo. He said if you leave and go on a mission then there is no point in coming back. I left Boise State and never came back.”
After leaving Boise State, Clinger served a two-year mission in Australia. While on his mission, Weber State and BYU both started to recruit him again. He selected Weber State.
At the 2001 Big Sky Indoor Championship, Clinger set the league all-time and championship record with a jump of 7 feet, 7 inches. He went on to win the NCAA Championship that season with a jump of 7-5. He also finished third in 2000 and seventh in 1999 at the NCAA meet. At the Big Sky Indoor Championship in 2000 and 2001, Clinger was named Field Athlete of the Meet.
“Charles was the hardest working, most competitive, most socially outgoing athletes I’ve had the good fortune to coach,” said Weber State’s head men’s coach Dan Walker. “I’ve never known another person who had so much fun while out working and out performing his teammates and competitors.”
Clinger won the Big Sky Outdoor Championship high jump titles in 1999, 2000 and 2001. In 2001, he jumped 7-8 ½, the league all-time and championship record.
“I think that is exciting to me,” said Clinger that his records still stand. “That is one of those things that deep down in your heart you’re hoping that someone comes a long that is good enough to break it because it would be a thrill to watch. But you also just want to sit there and hope it stays there forever.”
After all three outdoor championships, Clinger was named Outstanding Field Athlete.
“I was very honored in every instance to receive that award,” said Clinger. “There were some tremendous athletes while I was there. And on top of that there wasn’t just tremendous athletes but as much as you can be in a competitive sport we were very good friends. The entire experience was so positive to me. It was a really honoring experience.”
After the 2001 championship, Clinger went on to the NCAA Championship where he won the high jump with a mark of 7-6 1/2. He also finished 11th in 2000 and fourth in 1999.
After graduating from Weber State, Clinger was still competing until 2004. He graduated from UC Davis law school. Clinger is currently an attorney in his hometown of Star Valley, Wyo., where he works at Luthi & Voyles LLC.
