COLLEGIATE PERSONAL BESTS: HJ – 6-11 (2.11m)
2024 Outdoor
Season: Qualified to the NCAA East Region Prelims for the second consecutive season.
UCF Knights Invite (3/22-23): Finished fifth in the high jump in his outdoor season opener, clearing 6-8.25 (2.04m). Penn Relays (4/25-27): Tied his collegiate high jump PR with a 6-11 (2.11m) mark to win the college division high jump competition at the historic Penn Relays. NCAA East Region Prelims (5/22-25): Concluded his season with an appearance in the NCAA East Region meet for the second consecutive year.
2024 Indoor
Season: Set his collegiate high jump PR in his season opener.
Nittany Lion Challenge (1/13): Won the high jump with a personal-best 6-11 (2.11m) leap. Clemson Tiger Paw Invitational (2/9-10): Cleared 6-10.75 (2.10m) for tenth in the competition. Penn State Tune-Up (2/16): Won the high jump with a 6-9.75 (2.08m) clearance.
2023 Outdoor
Season: Qualified for the NCAA East Prelims in the high jump in his first outdoor season in college…Finished ninth at the Big Ten Outdoor Championships.
Penn Challenge (3/18): Picked up right where he left off in indoor season, clearing 6-6.75 (2.00m) for a fifth-place standing in his first collegiate outdoor meet. Hurricane Collegiate Invitational (3/25): Won the high jump with a 6-5 (1.96m) leap. Jim Thorpe Invitational (5/5): Set a collegiate-best mark in the high jump with a 6-9.75 (2.08m) clearance to win the event. Big Ten Outdoor Championships (5/12-14): Tied his season-best mark with a 6-9.75 (2.08m) jump to finish ninth in the conference in his first Big Ten meet. NCAA East Prelims (5/25-27): Went 6-8.25 (2.04m) for 16th in the East region in his first NCAA competition as a freshman.
2023 Indoor
Season: Competed in one meet during his first indoor season.
Nittany Lion Challenge (1/14): Cleared 6-6.75 (2.00m) in his collegiate debut, taking fourth place overall.
PRIOR TO PENN STATE
HIGH SCHOOL PRs: High Jump – 7-0.75*
*Indicates Connecticut State Record
Competed in high jump and sprints for Simsbury high school...Was named team captain for junior and senior indoor and outdoor seasons 2021-22...Nike national high jump champion...Named an All-American at 2022 nationals...Won New England High Jump championship...Won state title in high jump and 4x100m relay...Earned CIAC All State, CIAC All State First Team, All New England, and All-State Academic team honors.
PERSONAL
Parents are Tricia and Brian Watson…Has two siblings: Kaitlyn and Matt…Enrolled in the Division of Undergraduate Studies…Born in Connecticut.