YouTube made Chandler Hamilton’s Malik Whitaker into Arizona’s best high jumper

One of the most challenging acts in sports is track and field's high jump.

It takes years to learn how to run in a J-curve, jump from one foot and twist your body backwards into a Fosbury flop over an elevated bar. 

But Hamilton senior Malik Whitaker credits YouTube videos with helping him become Arizona's top jumper.

"What made me want to learn high jump was watching one of my older teammates that was really good, so I started watching YouTube videos when I was around 10 years old," Whitaker said.

Nearly all athletes can improve their skills by watching film.

The 6-foot-2 Whitaker was a member of the Montebello Cheetahs youth track team in his native Park Hill, Colorado which is near Denver.

After participating in the 400-meter and long jump events, Whitaker began researching the high jump.

"My mom was probably the biggest help to me growing up with high jump because I never really had a coach," Whitaker said. 

He worked hard on his vertical leaping ability and modeled his mechanics after video clips of legendary Cuban Olympian Javier Sotomayor.

Sotomayor set the world record three times during his career. His world record of 8-feet 0.5 inches has stood since 1993.

"I always learned if you want to be the best watch the best," Whitaker said of watching Sotomayor.

Whitaker, 18, moved to Chandler and transferred to Hamilton during his sophomore year of high school. He now holds this season's top mark of 6 feet 8 inches, which was set at Brophy Prep's AMDG Invitational on March 7.

Hamilton high jump and long jump coach Samantha Bowe gives Whitaker the necessary adjustments to his torque in practice and competition.

"We're just trying to focus on technique over the bar, working on keeping his knee drive going and taking advantage of his full height that he gets to instead of dropping his full knee and then ending his flight that he has when he takes off," Bowe said. "And then learning how to adjust his jumps when he starts to get tired because the more jumps you take, the more tired you're getting.

"But you're having to jump higher because the bar is going up and learning how to adjust your step. It's those little things that you can't really see on your own." 

Whitaker cleared 6 feet 8 inches on his third attempt in the high jump and won both that event and the long jump at the Hohokam Invitational last Friday.

"The majority of his competitors don't do other events like he does, so he's constantly jumping back and forth between long jump and high jump which is at the same time," Bowe said. "For him to be able to gather himself from switching back and forth in two different events in stressful situations and still end up winning meets is pretty remarkable." 

He cleared 6-6 1/4 at the Chandler Rotary on March 23, which resulted in another victory. Whitaker is aiming to clear more than 6-feet-10 at the state tournament in May. 

"I have gotten first in the Chandler Rotary, Hohokam and Brophy which is three out of four meets I have competed in this year," Whitaker said. "My highest jump as of now is 6 feet and 8 inches but I’m planning on a big jump of 6-10 or 7 feet

"In this last meet (Hohokam) on Friday, he ended up catching a back spasm right after he cleared 6-8 so I think that limited him from reaching his full potential of clearing 6-10," Bowe said.

Clearing 7 feet is chasing the state record held by former local high jump standout Justice Summerset. 

Summerset, a former Marana Mountain View standout and University of Arizona junior, achieved the state record of 7-feet-2 1/2 inches in 2016.

"Two of my idols are Justice Summerset and Vernon Turner because they are both young guys in DI college making a big name for themselves," Whitaker said. 

Turner, a University of Arkansas senior, has a career-high clearance of 7-7 3/4. Turner also has the nation's second best high school clearance of 7-6.

Now, Whitaker is passing on what he learned from YouTube to his teammates. 

"I have been teaching one of my teammates Justin Fisher this year as well as showing him the same videos i watched to learn," Whitaker said.

Bowe said it helps learning from a teammate.

"There's some things that coaches can't relate to their athletes," Bowe said. "When a teammate is giving you pointers and tips about how they try to fix things that the coach is telling them to fix and extra additives, it's from someone who is in your same position who can give you actual advice when competing."

Have tips for us?

Reach the reporter at dana.scott@azcentral.com or at 480-486-4721. Follow his Twitter @iam_DanaScott.

Support local journalism. Start your online subscription today.