Brandon Parker knew it when he was in first grade. When he firstcompeted in the long jump — and won.

Parker’s father knew it a few years later.

When Parker was in his Dad’s kempo kung fu class jumping headfirst over boxes stacked five-feet high.

“My Dad said I was going to break my neck,” Parker said. “Iguess that was the first time he saw my jumping ability.”

They both knew it when he was high school. When he recorded fourinterceptions in one quarter against Franklin High School — stilla state record. “I thought I was going to the NFL,” Parkersaid.

When he finished fifth at the state meet as a senior in the longjump he ended his day by tripping down the runway and tumblingthrough the pit. At first check he thought he was OK and then hesaw his thumb bent in separate directions. “On the X-ray it lookedlike a pencil snapped in half,” Parker said. “I didn’t think I’d begoing down the runway again.”

Flash forward four years and Parker’s jumping ability has himless than one foot away from qualifying for the Olympic Trials heldat Sacramento State in June.

It’s one of the reasons he chose to come to Sac State after hissenior year at Lincoln High School in Stockton.

“If the trials were going to be here in 2004, what better placeto train,” Parker said.

The requirements to qualify for the trials, record a distance of26 feet and 7 inches some time this season. His personal best inthe long jump is 25-9 1/4, a distance he recorded at the Big SkyChampionships last year, which gave him the conference title andranked him 12th in the nation.

“I felt like I belonged there the whole time, but I was justquestioning my ability,” Parker said of last season. “The jump camefor me and it breathed life back into me. I was like okay I canstill do this, I’m right here with these guys.”

The jump also gave him an automatic berth to the NCAA WestRegionals, where with a jump of 24-9, Parker earned an automaticberth to the NCAA championships — the first Hornet to do so since1990.

To make things better, the championships were being held atHornet Stadium.

Parker didn’t qualify for the final round of competition, hefinished 19th with a jump of 24-9 1/4.

“Everything just wasn’t right that day for me to get my bestjump,” Parker said. “I think I was a little bit nervous and mysteps on the runway were kind of off. I was still jumping far, butI was jumping from behind the board.”

In 2004 Parker has already nabbed the indoor long jumpchampionship and on May 12-15 will jump in defense of his outdoortitle. He also hopes to qualify for the NCAA championshipsagain.

“This is the first time that he is not only training hard, butmaking sacrifices to enhance his training,” Brandon’s father,Bonkii Parker said. “Even last year he didn’t have the work ethiche has now. This year he is really making sacrifices.”

Parker has been competing with chronic lower back pain for thelast few years. He receives treatment almost every day, before andafter practice.

“When I am in competition the adrenaline is pumping,” Parkersaid. “When I warm-up I get treated by the trainer so (my back)doesn’t hurt me as much in competition. It is more every day inpractice. I can’t do everything I want to.”

With cross country and track director Kathleen Raske taking overthe team this season, Parker has also started running the 100meters and has noticed improved speed on the jump runway.

But in high school it was his disdain for running that drew himto the long jump. “The long jumpers didn’t have to do as muchrunning as we did. I thought it looked a little easier than allthat running. I went over and tried and I ended up being kind ofgood and I just kind of stuck with it.”

It was in his genes to begin with. Parker’s father was achampionship sprinter and long jumper in high school and all of theParker brothers have followed in his footsteps.

“He’s always telling me how good he was,” Parker said. “He hasall kind of stories.”

Father and son haven’t raced since Parker was in eighth grade;it was the last time he has lost to his father, who has refused anyraces since.

Parker’s younger brothers Bryan, 18, and Brelen, 16, alsocompete in track and field and both play cornerbacks on theirrespective high school football teams at Lincoln.

“They don’t make shoes under $100,” Parker’s father said of allthe cleats he has to buy — a far cry from buying action figureswhen they were younger.

“I had to buy 12 ninja turtles,” he said. “Everybody had to haveall four.”

Bryan has already accepted a full ride scholarship to Sac Statefor next year as a defensive back with the football team and in thespring Bryan and Brandon will be able to compete in track for thefirst time together.

“In high school Brandon got all of the accolades,” Parker’sfather said. “His brothers got in the spotlight because of him, sogrowing up they had a natural sibling rivalry. Now they want theirshare of the limelight.”

This season Parker’s longest recorded jump is 23-9 1/2″ and hehas already won six meets. And all though he hasn’t reached lastseasons feats, he isn’t worried.

“I’m farther ahead this year than I was at this point lastyear,” Parker said. Raske said, “He’s got it within him today toget the ‘A’ standard (27’6″) for the Olympic Trials. It is just amatter of putting it together. He’s not far. He’s capable of doingit right now.”

Before the season ends he hopes to compete at the US Open onJune 19th, it will be his last chance to jump the A standard toqualify for the trials. Last year Parker also competed at a similarevent with some of the world’s best competitors.

“I was on the track warming up and I turn around and Gail Devers(the 100 meter US record holder) is stretching right next to me,”Parker said. “There were all these famous track people there. Icouldn’t focus on jumping I was just so excited to be there. I feltlike a little kid.”

In just two years of competition Parker has evolved into one ofthe best collegiate jumpers in the nation. He anguished for over ayear to improve his grades to the point where he would be eligibleto compete.

After his 2000 graduation, he didn’t compete until spring of2003.

“I wasn’t responsible enough to be living on my own and handlingcollege life,” Parker said. “I need someone on my butt telling mewhat to do.”

This semester he credits a new tutor for helping keep his gradesup. Parker seems to be in good position to make some critical jumpsin critical competitions this season.

“The bigger the competition is, the better jump I’ll produce,”Parker said. “I peaked right at the end of last season. The programI’m on is designed for me to peak at the end of the season. As longas I get the jumps when it’s time, that is all that matters.

“I’m going to start training like crazy if I don’t make (the2004 Olympic trials). I guarantee I’ll be there in 2008. Not beingthere is not an option.”