Donovyn Fowler repeats as male track and field athlete of year By Derek Shore | [email protected] 06/29/2022 https://www.joplinglobe.com/sports/local_sports/donovyn-fowler-repeats-as-male-track-and-field-athlete-of-year/article_7da14f54-e9c4-11ec-b8bd-b7b4b0f1e972.html?utm_campaign=blox&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&fbclid=IwAR34jZNEFqw85amGDqMmoNvvQyu4JYzb6rL71hPR1pyXr00gHjRpaM6qEv8
A season doesn’t get more dominant than the one Joplin senior Donovyn Fowler put together. Countless school records broken — mostly his own. A perfect season in both the long jump and triple jump, culminated with two state titles at the MSHSAA Class 5 Track and Field Championships last month in Jefferson City. A University of Oklahoma signee, Fowler has repeated as the Globe’s male track and field athlete of the year — this time for the 2021-22 school year. “He’s an unbelievable athlete,” Joplin head coach Nick Reid said. “Honestly, he’s probably a once-in-a-coaching-lifetime type of athlete. I’m not sure I’ll ever have another 50-foot triple jumper and 25-foot long jumper. So he’s definitely special to take gold in every triple jump and long jump event he competed in this year. “It’s a crowning achievement for his whole season and his whole career, really. … He’s never one to shy away from work. He puts in the time and effort, and he does a great job. He’s definitely dedicated to his craft.” At state, Fowler won the triple jump with a recorded mark of 15.14 meters (49 feet, 8.25 inches). What stuck out the most to Joplin jump coach, James Spencer, is Fowler’s last jump as an Eagle. Sitting in second place in the long jump, Fowler’s best jump was 7.39 meters at the time and trailed only Lee’s Summit Josh Manning (7.46). The last jump was a memorable one. Fowler ripped off a distance of 7.70 (25-3.25) — jumping so far it was past the furthest mark of where the laser-aimed equipment measured — to capture his second state championship in as many days. “You could tell, hands down, he was the most talented kid there,” Spencer said. “The way he approached that last jump — it gave us a glimpse of what he’s going to be doing at Oklahoma next year. It was just awesome to see.” Fowler became the first track and field athlete in Joplin program history to win two state titles in the same year. His performances helped the Eagles (46 points) place second in the team standings behind only Columbia Rock Bridge (97), marking the program’s first state trophy since 1978 when they won the Class 3A title as then-named Memorial High School. At the Class 5 Sectional 3 meet in Waynesville, Fowler broke his own program record in the long jump as he won the event with a distance of 24-6.50 — fresh off setting the previous mark of 24-5.25 at the Central Ozark Conference meet in early May. If there’s anything else he proved over his decorated career, Fowler wasn’t just a jumper. He was a state qualifier in the 200-meter dash as well as the 4x100 relay with Orion Norris, Davin Thomas and Luke Vieselmeyer. Despite only coaching him a year, Spencer had plenty of times to be wowed by the future OU Sooner throughout the spring campaign. “Obviously, as everyone knows, Donovyn is a very talented young man that did very well in track and field,” Spencer said. “But getting to work with him everyday, you got to see his work ethic and what he put into his craft to do well. Just seeing his businesslike approach everyday was awesome. “He’s a very coachable kid. He was great to work with. He’s a kid who’s easy to root for because of the way he does things.”
SPRING SEASON: Prep athletes earn SoMo Sports Athletes of the Year https://somo-sports.com/baseball/spring-season-prep-athletes-earn-somo-sports-athletes-of-the-year/ SOMO SPORTS SPRING ATHLETES OF THE YEARBOYS TRACK & FIELDDonovyn Fowler, Joplin, senior Joplin senior Donovyn Fowler is the SoMo Sports Athlete of the Year for boys track and field.Donovyn Fowler’s senior season at Joplin High School could be described as remarkable and historic. In one of the best individual seasons in JHS history, Fowler captured conference, district, sectional and state titles in both the long jump and triple. Fowler went undefeated in both events the entire spring, setting school records along the way. At the Class 5 state track meet, Fowler won the long jump with a leap of 25-3.25. The mark is a new Class 5 meet record. Fowler won the triple jump with his mark of 49-8.25. He became the first athlete from JHS to win two state titles in the same season. Fowler, who also qualified for state in the 200 and with the team’s 4×100 relay, led the Eagles to a second-place finish in the team standings. It’s the first time since 1978 a Joplin team finished in the top four at state. Fowler will continue his athletic career at Oklahoma. HM: Grayson Smith, Webb City; Donovahn Watkins, Joplin
Fowler, Suhrie named prep athletes of week Jared Porter | [email protected] Jun 3, 2022 Fowler, Suhrie named prep athletes of week | Sports | joplinglobe.com DONOVYN FOWLERFowler, a senior, capped one of the best individual track and field seasons in Joplin program history by claiming state titles in the long jump and triple jump at the MSHSAA Class 5 Track and Field Championships on May 27-28 in Jefferson City. Fowler bested the field in the triple jump with a mark of 15.14 meters before taking first in the long jump with a mark of 7.7 meters. He finished the entire season without a loss in either event, and he became the first track and field athlete in program history to win two state titles in the same year. Fowler’s performances helped the Eagles (46 points) place second in the team standings behind Columbia Rock Bridge (97 points), marking the program’s first state trophy since 1978 when it won the Class 3A title as then-named Memorial High School. “He’s an unbelievable athlete,” Joplin coach Nick Reid said. “Honestly, he’s probably a once-in-a-coaching-lifetime type of athlete. I’m not sure I’ll ever have another 50-foot triple jumper and 25-foot long jumper. So he’s definitely special to take gold in every triple jump and long jump event he competed in this year. “It’s a crowning achievement for his whole season and his whole career, really. … He’s never one to shy away from work. He puts in the time and effort, and he does a great job. He’s definitely dedicated to his craft.” Fowler is signed to continue his track and field career at the University of Oklahoma.
Joplin boys place 2nd at MSHSAA Track and Field Championships By Cody Thorn | [email protected] May 28, 2022 Updated May 28, 2022 Joplin boys place 2nd at MSHSAA Track and Field Championships | Sports | joplinglobe.com JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — The last day of the track and field season was a successful one for the Joplin boys squad. The Eagles picked up two more individual championships and added the school’s first trophy since 1978 or 1938 – depending on how you look at it – on Saturday at the Licklider Track Complex at Jefferson City High School. Joplin had 46 points to take second behind Columbia Rock Bridge’s 97 points in the Class 5 team trophy hunt. Thirty-two of the points for the Eagles came on day two of the meet between the trio of Donovyn Fowler, Donovahn Watkins and Hobbs Campbell. This is the first trophy for the school since Memorial won the Class 3A title in 1978. However, for Joplin High School, it is the first since a runner-up finish in 1938 in Class A. “It’s the culmination of a great season. We got some outstanding athletes, but when you get here, every point matters,” Joplin coach Nick Reid said. “So you know, you pick up a few points here and a few points there and it all adds up to a second-place finish. You never know how it’s actually going to play out when you get to the meet; who’s going to compete well or who’s gonna fall off and you know, our kids just like to have all year, showed up and exceeded expectations. “This hasn’t been done for 40 years or it’s been a long time and just to be a part of it is great. The assistant coaches have been unbelievable, the kids have been great. It’s just everything came together at the right time. Everybody had their hand in this.” Watkins took fourth place last year in the shot put and unleashed a school-record throw of 18.88 meters (61-11 ½) to claim the state title this year. He is the third Eagle to win state in the shot put and first since Brian Allen in 2005. “I really do love shot put and I love track and I had a chip on my shoulder to go out and better myself,” Watkins said. “There were times I didn’t want to throw, like after football or hit the weight room when I was worn out but I had to remember this is what I wanted to do.” Watkins fell to second place after a throw by Lee’s Summit West’s E’lan Moore but on his next throw, the Joplin senior retook the lead and for good. “He’s been peaking at the right time,” Reid said. “A kid passed him on the throw and then he (Watkins) kind of gave us a little grin and just let it rip and broke the old school record.” Fowler won a second championship in as many days, winning the long jump with a distance of 7.70 meters (25-3 ¼) on his last attempt. Lee’s Summit’s Josh Manning took the lead with a jump of 7.46 meters on his penultimate attempt. Fowler, whose best mark was 7.39 at the time, then jumped 7.70 to win it – jumping so far it was past the furthest mark of where the laser-aimed equipment measured. Had it not been for a wind of 2.7, Fowler would own the Class 5 record. “I was definitely a little nervous but that is where I shine my best,” Fowler said of being behind with only one jump left. “I tried to minimize the nerves, focus on the goal at hand and take advantage of what I needed to do.” Fowler finished the entire season without a loss in the long jump or triple jump, which he won Friday. He is the first track and field athlete for the boys to win multiple state titles and the first to win two in the same year. The only other multi-time champ is Lindsey Bourne, who won pole vault in 1999 and 2000. “He’s obviously an elite athlete and he will be missed next year. We enjoyed our time with him,” Reid said.
Joplin's Fowler wins state title in triple jump; Dunn wraps up decorated prep career Joplin's Fowler wins state title in triple jump; Dunn wraps up decorated prep career | Local Sports | joplinglobe.com JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Donovyn Fowler made a decision that perhaps helped on the way to a state title. The Joplin senior decided to scratch out of the 200-meter dash in the late afternoon on Friday at the MSHSAA Class 5 State Track and Field Championships to focus on the triple jump. He ran in the 200 last year and took 14th and then jumped and didn’t get the finish he wanted. “I started running and was getting flashbacks and nightmares from last year so I told my coaches to scratch me from (the 200),” Fowler said. “After the 200 your legs are shot for 15 or 20 minutes so I was definitely trying to stay fresh.” The move paid off. Fowler’s last recorded jump was 15.14 meters (49 feet, 8 ¼ inches) but even his next best jump – 14.92 meters – would’ve been enough to win. He is the 10th state champion in Joplin history according to MSHSAA’s online records and the first since Zach Westmoreland in the javelin. “It feels good coming off with a win, it is a great way to end the triple jump season,” said the Oklahoma signee. “It means a lot. I’ve wanted it since my freshman year. I made it to state (finals) and I was the ninth person they brought but I didn’t get a medal. Feeling this No. 1 on my neck feels amazing.”
Joplin boys take 2nd at Class 5 Sectional 3 track and field meetJoplin boys take 2nd at Class 5 Sectional 3 track and field meet | Sports | joplinglobe.com WAYNESVILLE, Mo. — The Joplin boys track and field team will be well-represented at the MSHSAA Track and Field Championships this weekend in Jefferson City, Mo. The Eagles claimed four individual titles and qualified for state in eight events en route to a second-place team finish at the Class 5 Sectional 3 meet on Monday at Waynesville High School. Joplin amassed 79 team points on the day and finished only behind boys team champion Capital City, which led the field with 98 points. Lafayette-Wildwood (55) and Republic (55) tied for third while Nixa (54) and Waynesville (54) tied for fifth. University of Oklahoma commit Donovyn Fowler led the way individually for the Eagles with two event wins and one runner-up finish. He broke his own program record in the long jump as he won the event with a distance of 7.48 meters, and he also claimed the crown in the triple jump with a mark of 15.07 meters. His second-place finish came in the 200-meter dash as he clocked a time of 22.78 seconds.
CARL JUNCTION, Mo. — Joplin High School’s boys track and field team continues to fill up the trophy case. The latest addition? The Eagles captured the Class 5 District 6 championship plaque on Saturday afternoon at Carl Junction High School, giving the program an impressive five team titles in six meets this season. Joplin sat alone atop the team standings with 118.5 points. Ozark finished as the runner-up with 96.75, followed by Nixa (96.5), Neosho (85.75) and Branson (83.75). The Eagles qualified for next Saturday’s state sectionals at Waynesville in 12 different events — top-four finishers in each event advance — headlined by double winners Donovyn Fowler (long jump and triple jump) and Hobbs Campbell (800-meter run and 1,600)
Joplin boys capture COC track and field title From Staff Reports | [email protected] May 6, 2022 https://www.joplinglobe.com/sports/local_sports/joplin-boys-capture-coc-track-and-field-title/article_1390fdc6-cdb3-11ec-883e-730029b53037.html CARTHAGE, Mo. — Joplin edged Willard, 112-97, for the boys team championship in the Central Ozark Conference track and field meet on Thursday night at David Haffner Stadium in Carthage. Republic (92), Ozark (84.5) and Nixa (82.5) rounded out the top-5 teams. The Eagles, who have now won a conference title for the third time in four years, amassed five event wins. Oklahoma signee Donovyn Fowler won the long jump, triple jump and showed off his speed by winning the 200-meter dash.
Joplin's Fowler breaks own long jump record at COC meet
CARTHAGE, Mo. — Donovyn Fowler tends to rise to the occasion at Carthage High School.
That’s become no joke.
Fowler once again won both the long jump and triple jump as the Joplin Eagles competed in the Central Ozark Conference Track and Field Championships on a calm Friday evening at CHS. One of the top jumpers in the country, the Oklahoma signee started off his day in emphatic fashion. Fowler leaped an impressive 24 feet, 5 inches in the long jump to break his own school record. “I always try to do my best at Carthage because it’s my favorite track for jumping,” Fowler said. “It’s really bouncy. The energy today was really good. It’s not super windy for once, which is crazy. I was actually able to get some good numbers in.” The record-setting mark by Fowler was set on just his second attempt. Joplin coach Nick Reid noted he needed a little motivation to get over the hump. “Donovyn got pushed a little bit today,” Reid said. “After the first jump, he was in second place. I think I made him a little upset, so he wanted to go out and show what he could do.” In the triple jump, Fowler was victorious with a mark of 49-7, continuing his undefeated stretch of placing first in both jumps at meets this season. And Friday’s showing was a big improvement from where he’s been the last few weeks. “This one feels a lot better,” Fowler said. “Now that we are getting into districts and sectionals, practice plans are changing up a little bit to focus more on your specific areas instead of just overall. I have been getting a lot of jump practices in.” Part of Fowler’s jump practices features a lot of short spring techniques, as well as plyometrics to help him perform at his peak. With the district and sectional meet right around the corner, Reid said Fowler is definitely peaking at the right time. “He’s right where he needs to be at mid 24s,” Reid said right before Fowler competed in the triple jump. “The goal was anywhere over 24, close to 25. We are getting there. We’ll see what he can do in the triple. I think he’s going to go over 50 today.” Fowler posted two podium finishes at the Class 5 MSHSAA Track and Field Championships last May at Adkins Stadium in Jefferson City, placing second in the triple (47-7.25) and fourth in the long (22-10.75) to help lift the Eagles to a ninth-place finish in the boys state meet. Fowler hopes Friday’s performance serves as a springboard heading into districts. “It’s definitely giving me a lot of confidence,” Fowler said. “24-5 is really good. I’m really hoping I can keep increasing that and eventually to where it can’t be beat again.” “Hopefully, we can just carry that on through to state,” Reid said.
Joplin sweeps team titles on blustery day at Webb City invite
FOWLER ‘RIGHT WHERE HE NEEDS TO BE’Conditions even played tricks on one of the nation’s top jumpers in Joplin’s Donovyn Fowler. But the Oklahoma signee still managed to win the long jump (7.18m) and triple jump (14.52m). He also helped the Eagles claim the 4x100-meter relay in 44.19 seconds. “The wind made it a little bit of a challenge, trying to get steps and stuff,” Fowler said. “But I definitely felt good. “I feel like I’m perfectly on pace where I need to be. I’m staying pretty consistent. I’m trying to get 50 feet and I’d also be happy if I got further than 50 feet because last year I jumped a high 49 in the triple jump. Long jump, I’m trying to get 24 and keep going up from there.”
Joplin boys capture team title at own invitational
BOYS Highlighting the Eagles was the trio of Donovyn Fowler, Donovahn Watkins and Hobbs Campbell, who each won a pair of events. A University of Oklahoma signee, Fowler leaped 7.19 meters to win the long jump and also jumped 14.40 meters to claim the triple-jump crown. It wasn’t the best day to his standards, but Reid was proud. “It happens,” Reid said. “You are not going to jump a PR (personal record) every day. We got some nice weather, but he still jumped 47 feet in the triple and almost 24 in the long. That was a good day’s worth.”
Joplin's Fowler, Carl Junction's Montez leave their mark at PSU From Staff Reports | [email protected] Apr 8, 2022 Joplin's Fowler, Carl Junction's Montez leave their mark at PSU | Local Sports | joplinglobe.com PITTSBURG, Kan. — Joplin's Donovyn Fowler and Carl Junction's Ally Montez showed why they are two of the top track and field athletes in the area. Fowler and Montez shattered meet records as area teams competed in the 33rd annual Jock's Nitch/PSU Gorilla Relays on Friday at Pittsburg State. A senior and future Oklahoma Sooner, Fowler won his two specialties once again — the triple jump and long jump — to help the Eagles post a fifth-place finish in the team standings. Fayetteville won the boys meet with 97.6 points, while Owasso (83) and Lee's Summit North (81.6) round out the top three. Twenty-six total teams competed on the boys side from four different states. Fowler leaped 48 feet, 3 inches to win the triple jump that set a new meet record. His jump of 23-7.5 was tops in the long jump. Also a senior, Montez posted two event wins for the Bulldogs that placed fifth in the girls standings.
Joplin’s Donovyn Fowler and College Heights Christian’s Addie Lawrence have been named The Globe’s prep athletes of the week for the week ending on April 2. DONOVYN FOWLEROne of the nation’s top jumpers, Fowler’s first track meet of the season went swimmingly. The Joplin senior that will compete at the University of Oklahoma next year won the long and triple jumps as the Eagles won the Carthage Invitational on March 31 at David Haffner Stadium. Fowler leaped 23 feet, 1.25 inches in the long jump and then 47-2.50 in the triple jump. “Donovyn was just picking up where he left off from last year,” Joplin coach Nick Reid said. “He’s just an unbelievable talent, unbelievable athlete. He signed with OU, so that pressure of getting to go and compete at the college level, is now off of him. He can just go out now and have fun, enjoy his senior season.” Last season, Fowler set program records in the triple and long jumps and capped the season with two podium finishes at the Class 5 MSHSAA Track and Field Championships last May. “I think he’s going to have some really big jumps,” Reid said. “The ultimate goal and expectation is to win a state championship. I think that’s fully within his capabilities to do. He’s got to stay healthy. That’s a big part for any athlete, but he’s going to have some big jumps this year.
Joplin's Fowler opens track and field season on right foot By Cody Thorn | [email protected] Mar 31, 2022 CARTHAGE, Mo. — Donovyn Fowler’s first meet of the season ended with a pair of first-place finishes. The Joplin senior that will compete at Oklahoma next year won his specialties — the long and triple jumps — during the Carthage Invitational on a blustery Thursday afternoon at David Haffner Stadium. The meet went on despite a mix of sleet and snow when field events began at 2 p.m. “When it is 30 degrees, that is when the mental factor kicks in. It is mind over matter,” Fowler said. “You keep warming in the cold, it shouldn’t affect you. I got decent jumps with the snow, so I think I did pretty well in my mind.” Temperatures hovered in the 30s for most of the meet, but add in a wind that hit 15 miles per hour or more, it made most events difficult, or unpleasant, throughout the day. Fowler jumped 7.04 meters in the long jump and then 14.39 meters in the triple jump. Fowler took fourth and earned all-state in the long jump last year. He had attempts left in the triple jump but passed after he had a 2-meter lead over the next closest jumper. “I know it is the first meet of the year so not my first meet, it is where I’m starting at for the season,” said Fowler, who also ran the 100- and 200-meter dashes. “Later on in the season, I know I will have to push myself to see how far I will have to go.” Those were the only first-place finishes for Joplin, which won the meet with 110 points, 10 more than Willard in the 14-team meet.
Donovyn Fowler set to head to Oklahoma as one of nation’s top jumpers Track & Field Joplin High School, University of Oklahoma https://bvmsports.com/2022/01/14/donovyn-fowler-set-to-head-to-oklahoma-as-one-of-nations-top-jumpers/
Donovyn Fowler, center, will be taking his talent in the long jump and triple jump to Oklahoma next fall. (Courtesy: Shawn Fowler) Donovyn Fowler, center, will be taking his talent in the long jump and triple jump to Oklahoma next fall. (Courtesy: Shawn Fowler) Cody Kluge BVM Sports Journalist/Editor January 14, 2022 JOPLIN, Mo. (BVM) – While Donovyn Fowler may have once thought his future may reside in football or basketball, his quick emergence in track and field – specifically in the long jump and triple jump – has many taking notice. Throughout his middle school years, Fowler competed on a travel basketball team. As he got into high school, the 17-year-old continued to compete on the Joplin High School football team. However, it was in eighth grade when Fowler got some advice from his mom that led him to his true calling. Despite playing basketball and football growing up, Donovyn Fowler realized he had a special talent in track and field when he began with the sport in eighth grade. “My mom was like, ‘Hey, you should try track instead, it will get you in shape a little bit more,’” Fowler said. “So that’s how I kind of found out about track. What really attracted me to it was just how many of my friends were actually doing it. I’ve found a lot of friends that I never would have met before if I didn’t do track.” One of those friends was Fowler’s cousin, Trayshawn Thomas, who he grew up with in both football and track and field. Thomas now plays football collegiately at Missouri Southern State University, but Fowler has taken away a lot from their tight bond. “Getting to actually train with my cousin over the high school seasons, it really meant a lot,” Fowler said. “He’s always pushed me … I’ve always looked up to him.” Not only did track allow Fowler to make further relationships, but he also proved early on he had an immense talent, particularly once he began competing in his main events of long jump and triple jump later into his first season. Great speed and jumping ability led Fowler to an opportunity to compete at the AAU Junior Olympics after his eighth grade year. It was at that meet that Fowler realized his true potential. “I competed in Junior Olympics for long and triple jump,” Fowler noted. “I ended up going to finals and placing at both. That’s when me and my parents really found out that I could do something special for track.” As he entered high school, Fowler began competing at Joplin as well as with the CJ Freedom Track Club, helping him further develop his skill. Coming off a strong freshman season, Fowler continued to compete locally and nationally up until the spring of 2020, when he lost his sophomore season to the COVID-19 pandemic. Donovyn Fowler has received plenty of support and training from his parents to help him get to where he is at today. “We were in the middle of a practice when our coach got the call that our season was going to be canceled and we were all heartbroken,” Fowler explained. “I really feel like if I had my sophomore season back, I could definitely have improved past where I am now. But thinking back on it, I really just think of it more as a training season.” Although he didn’t get to compete in any high school meets, the time was still beneficial for Fowler, as he continued to train and workout with his father, who has been a huge part of his physical progress. “He’s been a major part of my development,” Fowler said. “He’s definitely been learning with me as I go because he was never a track athlete like I am. But he’s been trying to pick up some new things, some new drills and lift types that we can use to better myself.” Fowler also took frequent bike rides with his mom throughout the early stages of the pandemic, helping him stay in shape. The extra work put in had Fowler in position for a breakout junior season, and he took full advantage. During his outdoor season last spring, Fowler set Joplin program records in both the long jump with a mark of 23 feet, 10.25 inches as well as in the triple jump with a mark of 49 feet, 11.5 inches. The jumps were also top in the state for the season and both in the top 10 nationally. He would go on to finish in the top five at both events at state – a good cap to the season, but also a motivator for his senior year. “It was kind of hit and miss,” Fowler said. “It was a little bit of a bummer. Donovyn Fowler will look to take his success both locally and nationally to Norman, Oklahoma as he aims to become an All-American with the Sooners. “As far as this outdoor season goes, my main goal is to win state in both long and triple jump, and this year, I think I have a really good chance at that.” Even more motivated than before, Fowler continued to put in work throughout the remainder of 2021. He now has three meets left in his indoor season, with a couple of big ones coming up in Arkansas and Chicago. It continues a stretch of numerous prominent events that Fowler has been in, becoming more comfortable each time he competes. “Those bigger meets have actually kind of trained me to not be as scared as I should be,” Fowler noted. Then, it will be off to the outdoor season where Fowler hopes to accomplish his state championship goals. Going into the year, Fowler will remain ranked in the top five nationally in both events in his class, an honor but also another motivating factor for the senior to get to the top. “I think it’s really cool because people in the surrounding area also see how good I am and they see how much work I’ve put in over the years,” Fowler said. “I’m really happy that I did the things that I did to get me to the point where I am. Thinking about how I could improve in my numbers, that really motivates me.” No matter his rank, there is no doubt any collegiate program would have been lucky to have Fowler. That school will be the University of Oklahoma, as Fowler officially signed his national letter of intent to become a Sooner last month. “It was a really difficult decision between the University of Oklahoma and the University of Indiana, because both coaching staffs and teams in general are great,” Fowler said. “But the University of Oklahoma itself, I felt more of a connection with. It was more of a family style as well as a hard-working team.” Donovyn Fowler hopes to get the training he needs at Oklahoma to someday achieve his Olympic dreams. (Courtesy: Shawn Fowler) At Oklahoma, Fowler will join forces with the nation’s top triple jumper, Brandon Green of Louisiana. Recently, the Joplin senior has been able to form a relationship with Green, and believes the sky’s the limit when it comes to what both could achieve during their time with the Sooners. “For me individually, I definitely want to be an All-American, for hopefully both events,” Fowler said. “When I was on my visit there, he [Green] was on his visit, so we kind of got to know each other a little bit better. Being now how we’re actually kind of close, I’m really excited about what the future is going to look like at Oklahoma because we’re both really good athletes that are going to push each other as far as we can.” While the future in Norman is bright for both athletes, Fowler has no intention of stopping his career there. Whether it be competing in the Diamond League or the Olympics someday, Fowler is prepared to put in the work to accomplish his dreams while at Oklahoma. “Hopefully I will be able to go to the Olympics or the Diamond League, more preferably the Olympics because that is more nationally recognized than the Diamond League is,” Fowler concluded. “I’m assuming that there will be training in Oklahoma because their facilities look absolutely amazing and the coaching staff there I believe can also get me to that level at the Olympics.”
COLLEGE SIGNING: Joplin’s Fowler inks with Oklahoma University https://somo-sports.com/football/college-signing-joplins-fowler-inks-with-oklahoma-university/
By: Lucas Davis [email protected] | @sportsbyLD Dec 16, 2021 Joplin senior Donovyn Fowler is getting an opportunity very few student-athletes get. On Tuesday, Fowler sat with family by his side as he signed his letter of intent to continue his track and field career at Oklahoma University. “It definitely means a lot coming from a little kid who never would have dreamed of making it to this big of a college,” Fowler said. “Watching Mizzou growing up, I definitely thought it was going to be Mizzou, but the coaching staff at Oklahoma really changed my opinion on that.” “It’s really exciting,” Fowler added about attending a Power Five school. “All of the people who support me can continue to support me by watching on TV as I compete at one of the highest levels.” The Sooners weren’t the only program courting Fowler either. Fowler was also considering the University of Missouri as well as Indiana University. So, why Oklahoma? “It was really just all of the athletes there,” Fowler said. “They’re more like one big happy family. They are all connected in one way or another. And the coaching staff, it’s kind of like having your own family there, but they are also honest with you about how they’re going to make you better. It’s fun as much as it’s business.” Fowler is a multi-sport athlete who also played football in the fall as a starting defensive back. When asked if he felt being a dual-sport athlete helped him develop more as student-athlete, Fowler was quick to confirm he was a supporter of playing multiple sports. “It’s definitely made me a lot tougher,” Fowler said. “It has helped me build the character I have today. … You should definitely do multiple sports. It helps you stay in shape during the offseason and you gain a lot of friendships playing multiple sports.” Fowler will be focusing on the triple jump and the long jump as a field athlete at Oklahoma. He is also preparing for his final season with the Joplin track and field program this spring. Fowler will look to build off a stellar junior campaign that saw him set PRs while breaking his own school record multiple times in the triple jump (49 feet, 11.5 inches) on the way to multiple first-place finishes in both jumps. At the state meet, Fowler took second in the triple jump and fourth in the long jump. He is ready for the opportunity to improve on that. “I just want to break all of the records I can,” Fowler said about his goals for his senior season. “I also want to win athlete of the year for Mo Sports. That would definitely be a big accomplishment.”Joplin senior Donovyn Fowler is getting an opportunity very few student-athletes get. On Tuesday, Fowler sat with family by his side as he signed his letter of intent to continue his track and field career at Oklahoma University. “It definitely means a lot coming from a little kid who never would have dreamed of making it to this big of a college,” Fowler said. “Watching Mizzou growing up, I definitely thought it was going to be Mizzou, but the coaching staff at Oklahoma really changed my opinion on that.” “It’s really exciting,” Fowler added about attending a Power Five school. “All of the people who support me can continue to support me by watching on TV as I compete at one of the highest levels.” The Sooners weren’t the only program courting Fowler either. Fowler was also considering the University of Missouri as well as Indiana University. So, why Oklahoma? “It was really just all of the athletes there,” Fowler said. “They’re more like one big happy family. They are all connected in one way or another. And the coaching staff, it’s kind of like having your own family there, but they are also honest with you about how they’re going to make you better. It’s fun as much as it’s business.” Fowler is a multi-sport athlete who also played football in the fall as a starting defensive back. When asked if he felt being a dual-sport athlete helped him develop more as student-athlete, Fowler was quick to confirm he was a supporter of playing multiple sports. “It’s definitely made me a lot tougher,” Fowler said. “It has helped me build the character I have today. … You should definitely do multiple sports. It helps you stay in shape during the offseason and you gain a lot of friendships playing multiple sports.” Fowler will be focusing on the triple jump and the long jump as a field athlete at Oklahoma. He is also preparing for his final season with the Joplin track and field program this spring. Fowler will look to build off a stellar junior campaign that saw him set PRs while breaking his own school record multiple times in the triple jump (49 feet, 11.5 inches) on the way to multiple first-place finishes in both jumps. At the state meet, Fowler took second in the triple jump and fourth in the long jump. He is ready for the opportunity to improve on that. “I just want to break all of the records I can,” Fowler said about his goals for his senior season. “I also want to win athlete of the year for Mo Sports. That would definitely be a big accomplishment.”
Oklahoma Solidified Its Field Event Positions In Recruiting Inside Recruiting Garrett Zatlin Jan 10, 2022 https://www.milesplit.com/articles/307948/oklahoma-solidified-its-field-event-positions-in-recruiting
As we move away from Smith, we come to the jumps portion of this recruiting class. The Sooners earned the signatures of two of the country's best talents: Ruston's (LA) Brandon Green and Lee's Summit's (MO) Donovyn Fowler. Green is a star talent in the triple jump, posting marks that have placed him at No. 33 in our Class of 2022 recruit rankings. The Louisiana ace ended the 2021 indoor track season with a US No. 4 mark of 48-11.5 in the event before advancing to the outdoor season where he posted a US No. 6 mark of 50-4.25. That latter result, while not wind-legal, was a sign of things to come. Green also posted a wind-legal mark of 47-10.75. That performance placed him at US No. 21 during the outdoor track season. With a long jump PR of 22-7.25 from the spring and a winter ranking of US No. 52 in the same event, Green has a lot of scoring potential that he can bring to Oklahoma. The Sooners are known for their grand success in the field events, specifically in the jumps. Of course, Green isn't the only jumps recruit who brings massive value to this roster. Then there's Fowler. The No. 37 recruit in our Class of 2022 rankings has an argument to be listed higher than Green. During the 2021 indoor track season, Fowler was ranked at US No. 12 in the triple jump (46-10.75) and US No. 34 in the long jump (22-6.5). The crazy part, however, is that those aren't even his personal bests: Fowler owns wind-legal marks of 47-7.24 (TJ) and 22-10.75 (LJ). Both of those results came last spring and resulted in national rankings of US No. 25 and US No. 74, respectively. In the grand scheme of things, Fowler perfectly complements Green. Fowler is slightly more versatile while Green has a slightly stronger mark in the triple jump. In a powerhouse jumps group like Oklahoma, these two recruits should prove to be a lethal 1-2 punch at the collegiate level.
The Top Combined Long And Triple Jumpers In The U.S.
https://www.milesplit.com/articles/308321/the-top-combined-long-and-triple-jumpers-in-the-us Right now, Joplin's (MO) Donovyn Fowler leads the country in combined jumps with his long jump mark of 23-10 and his triple jump best of 49-9.25. Meanwhile, Denver Mullen's (CO) Agur Dwol has produced marks of 19-11 and 42-0.75 in the long and triple jumps, respectively. The Top Combined Boys Long and Triple Jumpers RANK NAME LJ TJ COMBINED 1 Donovyn Fowler - Joplin High School 23-10 49-9.25 73-7.25 2 Jay Avery - Hoover 23-8 48-6.25 72-2.25 3 Mateo Smith - DeDicated Performance 23-4.25 48-5 71-9.25 4 Gregory Foster - The Lawrenceville School 24-0 47-8.5 71-8.5 5 Zane Wallace - Major Impact Texas 23-6 47-11.75 71-5.75 6 Brandon Green - Ruston 22-1 48-11 71-0 7 Jayden Louis-Charles - Plano West 20-6 49-11.75 70-5.75 8 Jaylen Lloyd - Unattached - NE 23-0 47-3 70-3 9 Donovan Young - Gilman School 22-3.5 47-8 69-11.5 10 Brian DiBassinga - Battlefield 21-1.25 48-7.25 69-8.5
Joplin's Fowler: '(OU's) where I fit in best' By Derek Shore | [email protected] Dec 15, 2021 https://www.joplinglobe.com/sports/local_sports/joplins-fowler-ous-where-i-fit-in-best/article_93d78774-5dfc-11ec-a320-df5078ecaee4.html
In the not-too-distant future, Donovyn Fowler will be chanting “Boomer Sooner.” The Joplin High School multi-sport standout signed his national letter of intent to compete in track and field at the University of Oklahoma on Wednesday at JHS. Fowler is the No. 2 ranked triple jumper and No. 4 ranked long jumper in the Class of 2022, according to MileSplit USA. “My recruiting process was different since I didn’t get to experience it my junior year,” Fowler said. “My senior year, I tried to take advantage of it. We moved the dates around due to football, so instead of going Friday, Saturday and Sunday, we would go Saturday, Sunday and Monday. I missed a little bit of school on Monday, but I didn’t get affected too much by that. “As far as choosing Oklahoma, that’s where I fit in best. The coaching staff and all the players made me feel right at home.” Fowler’s become a coveted prospect for major college coaches. Aside from Oklahoma, he’s received recruiting interest from USC, Arizona State, Kansas, Indiana, Missouri and Arkansas. Joplin assistant track coach Michael Juergens’ face lit up when speaking about Fowler’s capabilities as a track athlete. “The Joplin track team hasn’t had a big-time athlete like this for awhile jumper wise,” Juergens said. “It’s a huge deal for Dono. Ever since we got him his freshman year, we always knew it was coming. He can jump out of the building, but honestly what it comes down to, is his coachability with it. “He’s able to take what you tell him to do and he can transition it into triple jump so quickly. It’s such a technical event and he is so good at fixing things so fast.” Coming off a record-setting junior season at Joplin, Fowler set program records in the triple and long jumps. He capped the season with two podium finishes at the Class 5 MSHSAA Track and Field Championships in May at Adkins Stadium in Jefferson City. Fowler picked up podium finishes in the long jump and triple jump over the summer at the 2021 AAU Junior Olympic Games in Houston, Texas, while competing for the Carl Junction Freedom Track Club. Once he arrives at OU, Fowler will be joined by the nation’s No. 1 triple jumper in Brandon Green. Green preps at Ruston High School in Louisiana and committed to compete in track with the Sooners last month. “I definitely think it will be a back-and-forth battle between me and him this year (in AAU),” Fowler said. “It will definitely be competitive having him there with me. At the end of the day, we are still teammates and we have nothing but love for each other. I think having him as a training partner is definitely going to help improve both of us and take us to an even higher level than we are.” The optimism is high as Fowler looks to his senior campaign with the Eagles. Fowler hopes to shatter his own records of 49 feet, 11.5 inches in the triple jump and 23-10 in the long jump that were set in 2021. “Yeah, I definitely feel like I have made a name for myself,” Fowler said. “Usually when I go places that have track athletes, they usually know me. My goal for my senior season is to go 25 (feet) in long jump and 50 in triple jump, and after that, I want to keep improving as much as I can.” Added Juergens, “Oh gosh, nobody is going to beat him. He is a stud. I don’t see anybody beating him.” Before he aims to win a ring and individual titles with the Sooners, Fowler wants to take a step back and relish the opportunity to compete at a Power-Five-conference program. “It just means you can do anything you put your mind to as long as you put in the work and have people motivating you,” Fowler said. “I have the city of Joplin and my family, along with my friends motivating me. Anything is really possible.”
Joplin standout Fowler signs to Oklahoma track and field https://www.koamnewsnow.com/joplin-standout-fowler-signs-to-oklahoma-track-and-field/
JOPLIN, Mo. – Joplin High School senior Donovyn Fowler signed on Wednesday afternoon to continue his track and field career at the Division I level. Fowler is headed to Norman, Oklahoma to compete in the long jump and triple jump for the University of Oklahoma. “It feels absolutely amazing, and it also feels amazing to see the city of Joplin come out to support me through everything I’ve been through,” Fowler says, “They’ve supported me from the ground up and I really appreciate that and I could not have done this without them.” Fowler holds the school records in both the long jump and triple jump at Joplin High School. (Fowler’s records and awards). He’s one of the best coming out of Missouri this year – and one of the top rated jumpers in the entire country in the class of 2022. “It took a lot of training, and my dad helped out especially, being a personal trainer,” Fowler says, “He would work on my fast-twitch movements, and then here at the high school we have a great weight-lifting staff that would help me build muscle from there.” As for why he chose Oklahoma? “It was definitely how they carried themselves and how they presented themselves,” Fowler finishes, “From the first time we met on a Zoom call, they were extremely professional and funny. Then went I went there, they kind of just amplified that by 10. It really just made it feel like a second home.”
Joplin’s Donovyn Fowler signs with Oklahoma track and field https://www.fourstateshomepage.com/sports/local-sports/joplins-donovyn-fowler-signs-with-oklahoma-track-and-field/
JOPLIN, Mo. – Joplin senior Donovyn Fowler always thought he’d play college football. Instead, he signed his letter of intent on Wednesday to join the Oklahoma track and field team. The dream was always college football, but he was a bit smaller in stature. It wasn’t until after a successful Junior Olympics meet during his first season of AAU that Fowler began considering track and field as an option. Fowler, who holds Joplin school records in both the long and triple jump, said that Oklahoma was just the right fit for him. “Oklahoma, it was definitely how they carried themselves and presented themselves from the first time we went on a Zoom call, they were extremely professional as well as funny,” Fowler said. “Whenever I went there they kind of just amplified that times ten, and they just really made me feel like at home.” The Sooners will be getting not just one of the best jumpers in the state of Missouri, but in the country. Fowler is currently ranked second nationally in the triple jump, and third in the long jump.
Joplin’s Fowler shines at AAU Junior Olympics By Derek Shore | [email protected] Aug 4, 2021 https://www.joplinglobe.com/sports/local_sports/joplin-s-fowler-shines-at-aau-junior-olympics/article_bc10fc3a-f582-11eb-8fee-234288c33b90.html Donovyn Fowler did not back down competing against the “top dogs” in the country. He rose to the occasion. Fowler, who will be a senior at Joplin High School, picked up podium finishes in the long jump and triple jump this week at the 2021 AAU Junior Olympic Games in Houston, Texas, while competing for the Carl Junction Freedom Track Club. And he accomplished that all while facing older competition. “It just proves I can compete with the top dogs that are out there because everyone I was competing against was pretty much already graduated and going off to college,” Fowler said. “I’m just now starting to relish my senior season. It means the sky’s the limit for me once I get to that senior mark. “After that, once I go to college, I’m really going to start doing some damage out there.” On Monday, Fowler started things off in style by placing fourth out of 109 competitors in the long jump — the three ahead of him graduated in the class of 2021. His leap of 24 feet, 3 inches set a personal and club record. But Fowler didn’t stop there. He placed second out of 80 jumpers in the triple jump on Wednesday afternoon. Fowler secured his second podium finish with a mark of 49 feet, 2.25 inches. “Long jump-wise, I feel like I did amazing but they didn’t really give us a break in between our fifth flight and our finals,” Fowler said. “So my leg was beat up for the triple jump. My hamstring was tight. There was a knot in it, but I tried to power through as much as I could and I was still able to get some really good numbers out of it. “I felt like I could have done a little bit better with the triple jump. But for the circumstances, I felt like I did pretty good. For not having any coaches there and for my parents being there, I felt like they did the most they could for me coaching-wise. I’m so grateful they have been supportive of me all throughout this journey.” Fowler is considered to be the top jumper in the country and is ranked as the No. 37 recruit in the nation for the class of 2022 by MileSplit USA. “It feels unrealistic at this point,” he said, explaining how it feels to pick up two podium finishes. “The year before I couldn’t do anything because of COVID-19. But (my freshman year), I only got third in the triple jump. I didn’t even place in the long jump. I was just trying to get my sights set out and trying to get a podium for both of those. I’m pretty happy with the numbers I put up this week.” Coming off a record-setting junior season at Joplin, Fowler set program records in the triple and long jumps. He capped the season with two podium finishes at the Class 5 MSHSAA Track and Field Championships in May at Adkins Stadium in Jefferson City. And Fowler has become a coveted prospect for major college coaches. He’s received recruiting interest from a number of Power 5 Conference schools, including USC, Arizona State, Kansas, Indiana, Missouri and Arkansas. People now know the name Donovyn Fowler. “Track meets are definitely going to be different (next spring),” Fowler said. “There are going to be a lot more people who know who I am. There are going to be a lot more eyes on me whether I’m doing running or field events. “I’m just going to stay in the same mindset that I’ve been staying in and try to do the best I can, so I can make it out of here and support my family.”
Donovyn Fowler named Boys Track and Field Athlete of Year https://www.joplinglobe.com/sports/local_sports/donovyn-fowler-named-boys-track-and-field-athlete-of-year/article_51c05ba2-e33d-11eb-80d7-93d1735fb583.html
Donovyn Fowler set Joplin High School records while proving to be among the top track and field athletes in the state. The junior set program records in the triple and long jumps and capped the season with two podium finishes at the Class 5 MSHSAA Track and Field Championships in late May at Adkins Stadium in Jefferson City, placing second in the triple (47 feet, 7.25 inches) and fourth in the long (22-10.75) to help lift the Eagles to a ninth-place finish in the boys state meet. Fowler has been named the Globe’s male track and field athlete of the year for the 2020-21 school year. At the Class 5 Sectional 3 meet in Carthage, Fowler broke his own school record in the long jump with a mark of 49-11. Earlier in the year, he set the school record in the long jump with a leap of 23-10. Fowler was also a state qualifier in the 200-meter dash as well as the 4x100 relay with Trayshawn Thomas, Dominick Simmons and Luke Vieselmeyer. Fowler finished the campaign ranked by MileSplit USA as a top-50 recruit in the nation for the class of 2022. “He had an outstanding year,” former Joplin track coach Brandon Taute, now the head football coach at Neosho, said. “With the year off from COVID, you never knew what to expect coming back. We knew he had top-end talent from his freshman year, but we really didn’t know how much he would progress. But he came out in the first meet of the year and broke the long jump record. He just continued to get better as the year went along, and especially in the triple jump. As a sprinter, he was pretty dominant in the 200 all year in southwest Missouri. and then he did a tremendous job as the anchor of our 4x100, running a lot of people down and being the heart of that relay for us. “Donovyn is definitely one of the top recruits in his class, and he had one of the top triple jumps in the nation for all ages. So he has a bright future ahead of him.”
JOPLIN’S FOWLER POSTS NATION’S NO. 5 TRIPLE JUMP MARK AT SECTIONAL MEET
https://www.ozarkssportszone.com/2021/05/22/joplins-fowler-posts-nations-no-5-triple-jump-mark-at-sectional-meet/ By Brock Sisney (For OzarksSportsZone.com) CARTHAGE — In his fourth and final jump of the day Saturday in the triple jump, Joplin junior Donovyn Fowler saved his best for last and missed 50 feet by one-half inch. In doing so, Fowler broke his own school record by 7.5 inches and his sectional title in the triple highlighted a day in which he qualified for the Class 5 state track meet next week in four events — the long jump, the 4×100, and the 200-meter dash in addition to the triple. Fowler’s previous best in the triple ranked him first in the state and sixth nationally among high school athletes. His new longest distance places him fifth, behind four athletes who have all cleared 50 feet with their respective jumps. “It was a real disappointment,” Fowler said. “If I would have just held my feet up a little bit longer, I could have possibly got over that 50 mark. State, that’s the time to make my point, to get that 50 right there. I’m peaking at just the right time. “The biggest challenge is trying to get to that 50 mark. Trying to push myself, trying to make myself every day get better.” Fowler began competing in the triple his eighth grade year of track and the long his summer year of eighth grade with his AAU track team. “I just like how fun it is,” Fowler said. “All the community coming together, just the camaraderie between everyone, laughing, making jokes. At the end of the day, it’s really all about the business.” Fowler won sectionals in the long jump Saturday with a distance of 23-9 just an inch shy of matching his school record, a mark that he set in the season-opening Carthage Invitational. Carthage hosted sectionals Saturday, so it’s safe to say that Fowler has a soft and warm spot in his heart for David J. Haffner Stadium. “It definitely feels like we float,” Fowler said. “Whenever we triple jump and we get those long phases, it feels like we’re floating in time and time has pretty much stopped.” Fowler placed third Saturday in the 200 with a time of 22.82. Fowler will be joined at state in the triple and long jumps and the 4×100 by his first cousin, senior Trayshawn Thomas. “It feels great,” Fowler said. “My freshman year, me and him made it to state. I’m so happy that we made it to state for his senior year.” “I get to go against my cousin at practice,” Thomas said. “Me and him compete against each other to see who gets the best distance. We’ve been together our whole lives.
“We’ve talked about it for a while. Before my first time jumping (sophomore year), we talked about going to state together. We made it.” Thomas, listed at 6-foot-1 and 207 pounds and who has signed to play college football with the hometown team Missouri Southern, finished second Saturday in the triple at 44-4 and third in the long at 22-1.5. “I did alright,” Thomas said. “I still need to work on my phases (three phases in the triple jump: hop, step, and jump). My landing, I think I did decent, but it still needs some work.” Thomas and Fowler ran the second and anchor legs, respectively, on the 4×100 that placed fourth Saturday with a time of 43.93 seconds, their best time of the season. Dominick Simmons and Luke Vieselmeyer are the other two legs of the 4×100.
Joplin's Fowler breaks triple jump record at Webb City Invitational https://www.joplinglobe.com/sports/local_sports/joplins-fowler-breaks-triple-jump-record-at-webb-city-invitational/article_4e1f9bf2-aa21-11eb-b053-bfd5a238c60f.html
WEBB CITY, Mo. — Thursday was one of the best days weather-wise all spring, and Donovyn Fowler wasn’t about to let it go to waste. Fowler shattered the Joplin High School triple jump record by two feet, sailing 49 feet, 4 inches to win the triple jump in the Webb City Invitational at Cardinal Stadium. “I just new it was going to be good weather, so I just tried to make the best of my opportunity,” Fowler said. “I definitely could work on my landing. I put my feet down too early, so I easily could have gone 50.” Fowler also won the long jump at 22-10. “I prefer triple because it’s a lot more technique-based instead of just speed and strength,” Fowler said. “That was awesome,” Joplin coach Brandon Taute said. “That triple jump is a leap. That’s a big-time jump. “Donovyn had a great day all the way around ... triple jump, long jump, a great leg in the 4x100, and his 200. That’s what we’ve been waiting to see out of him in the 200. He had a great day.” The Eagles finished second in the boys team standings with 131 points, two more than third-place Willard. Hobbs Campbell won the 1600 meters and ran the leadoff leg on the winning 4x800 relay team, followed by Michael Bruggeman, Ashton Ventura and Nicholas Horton. Dominick Simmons, Trayshawn Thomas and Luke Vieselmeyer joined Fowler on the 4x100. Joplin’s girls won the 4x800, with Allie Keizer, Alexandra Carson, Jackaline Triplett and Jennalee Dunn running. The Eagles were sixth in the standings with 63.5 points. “I was happy with the way our kids competed,” Taute said. “We had some kids we wanted to see in different events. We got out of it what we wanted, a lot of PRs. It went really well.”
PREP TRACK & FIELD: Fowler continues to shine for JHS boys; Eagles finish second at Webb City
https://somo-sports.com/top-stories/prep-track-eagles-finish-second-at-webb-city/ By: Jason Peake [email protected] |
WEBB CITY, Mo. — Donovyn Fowler continues to have a record-breaking season for the Joplin High School boys track and field team. A junior, Fowler set a school record in the triple jump by clearing 49 feet, 4 inches at Friday’s Webb City Invitational inside Cardinal Stadium. With Fowler leading the way, Joplin’s boys compiled 131 points and finished second in the team standings to host Webb City (177.5). Fowler’s mark in the triple jump was also good for a first place finish. “I think it was the weather honestly,” Fowler said of his triple jump performance. “Compared to some of the other meets, the weather today was perfect for jumping. I was nice and loose and just feeling it today. I was out for a week and I was trying to prove a point coming back.” Fowler also won the long jump on Friday with a leap of 22-7. Fowler already owns the JHS school record in the long jump (23-10.25). Again, he’s just a junior. “I think having the record in both events means more people are going to look at me and take me seriously,” Fowler said. “I hope it gives me more opportunities with colleges.” Fowler also ran a leg of Joplin’s 4×100-meter relay team that took first place with a time of 43.99. Dominick Simmons, Trayshawn Thomas and Luke Vieselmeyer also ran legs of the relay. Fowler placed second in the 200-meter dash (22.51) to conclude a busy and productive evening. Simply put, Fowler’s in the midst of a stellar season for the Eagles. “I’m just trying to help my team win a state title,” Fowler said. “Our goals are high.” The Joplin boys won five events overall. Joplin’s 4×800 relay team of Hobbs Campbell, Micah Bruggeman, Ashton Ventura and Nicholas Horton took first in 8:11, giving the Eagles two wins in the relays. Campbell won the 3200 in 9:40. Thomas took second to Fowler in the triple jump and also finished fourth in the 200 and sixth in the long jump.
Joplin’s Fowler ranks among nation’s best in triple jump https://www.ozarkssportszone.com/2021/04/30/school-records-state-leading-marks-set-at-webb-city-invitational-1/
Continuing his excellent season, Joplin junior Donovyn Fowler brought home a pair of titles in the long and the triple jump with marks of 6.93 and 15.06 meters, respectively. School record holder Fowler now owns the state-leading mark in the triple.
Joplin's Fowler continues to jump for glory https://www.joplinglobe.com/sports/local_sports/joplins-fowler-continues-to-jump-for-glory/article_f33d2b8a-97f8-11eb-84ef-e3d0392ca95f.html#//
Donovyn Fowler’s sights were aimed high at the Carthage Invitational. “I was gunning to break at least one record,” he said. Mission accomplished. A junior jumper on the Joplin High School track and field team, Fowler won the long jump in the Eagles’ first meet of the spring season. His distance of 23 feet, 10.25 inches broke the school record. That jump eclipsed the previous school record of 22 feet, 7 inches by a whopping 15 inches. Ask his coaches and they knew history was coming from a mile away. “I wouldn’t say I was shocked because he’s a kid that with the year off, he still went and competed,” Joplin coach Brandon Taute said. “He has hit big jump after big jump on the national level. We knew it was coming. For it to happen at the first meet out, I don’t know if we expected it there, but he was absolutely expected to break it. I thought it might get broken, but he broke it by well over a foot. I wasn’t expecting that.” Bouncing backFollowing a breakout season as a freshman two years ago, big things were expected out of Fowler as a sophomore last year. He was coming off of a strong indoor season where he shined in both the triple and long jump. He was also listed as the Class of 2022’s No. 40 track and field recruit in the nation by MileSplit USA. “Track is just where my heart is,” Fowler said. But then came the announcement: COVID-19 ended his sophomore season before it even began. “We had our spring practices and then in the middle of practice our coaches had told us that we couldn’t have the season anymore,” Fowler said. “Right before the school year started (after spring break), we had to go and turn in all of our gear. I was definitely shocked. I liked spending all of the time with my team because they are the ones that push me along with the coaches. Not actually being able to work with them definitely slowed me down a little bit.” Fowler wasn’t slowed for long. He used the COVID-19 break to workout intensely with his father Troy, a personal trainer in Joplin, to improve his leaping ability. Whenever he trained, Fowler worked out with an ankle weight specifically designed to help increase one area of his jumping. “We really worked on everything but mainly focused on explosiveness,” Fowler said. “I wore an ankle weight, so that way it could help me become more explosive whenever I didn’t have it on. It was definitely fun.” That turned out to work in his favor. Fowler recorded some of the top jumps not only in Missouri, but also in the nation for the 2021 indoor track season. For the class of 2022, Fowler was tops in the triple jump in the Show-Me State and third in the country. In the long jump, he was again first in Missouri and fourth in the nation. “It means a lot,” Fowler said. “It means I know I can get my name out there, so I can go to a good college. I’m trying to go somewhere that has warm weather or somewhere I actually fit into the campus instead of being just another person walking around. I’m looking to go a DI school or if I feel like I fit better at a DII or DIII, I’m more than happy to go there. It’s really what suits me best.” Setting recordsThe first record Fowler expected to break was Joplin’s triple jump, but he still managed to place first despite nursing a heel injury he sustained at nationals on March 12. “The triple jump was hard to do,” Fowler said. “Long jump, I was definitely shocked at that one because previously at the last meet that I went to I only jumped 22 feet, 2 inches. So getting that 23 feet, 10 inches, definitely makes me more excited about what’s to come this season.” Fowler said one of his biggest goals moving forward is to break the school record in the 4x100 with Nathan Glades, Trayshawn Thomas and Dominick Simmons. The relay team won the relay in 44.57 seconds — two seconds shy of the school record. “I definitely feel like by the end of the season we could break that,” Fowler said. “Alone by myself, I want to break the long jump record again and the triple jump record hopefully.” “He’s one of those kids that has a natural spring to him,” Taute said. “When you have that natural ability to take off the board and combine that with work ethic, he’s a kid that works at it year-round. … That’s when you see special things happen. “There’s a lot of times you get kids that can jump, but they don’t know what to do when they get in the air. It’s testament to his work-ethic and how much time he spends on jumping, perfecting all those little things because you don’t just jump 23 feet, 10 inches by being born with the ability to jump. He has put a lot of work in, and I’m just happy to see all that hard-work paying off.”
Third Update: Class of 2022 Top 50 Boys Recruits https://www.milesplit.com/articles/296296/third-update-class-of-2022-top-50-boys-recruits Recruiting Rundown - Garrett Zatlin - May 4, 2021 Current Ranking 37 Donovyn Fowler Joplin (MO)JumpsMuch like Stewart, Fowler is a dynamic horizontal jumps specialist who is able to fluctuate between the triple and long jump fairly easily. He was ranked at US No. 12 in the triple jump and US No. 34 in the long jump this past winter. Since then, he has comfortably gone over the 23-0 barrier, leaping a big mark of 23-8 and earning a US No. 18 so far this spring.
https://mo.milesplit.com/articles/293147/missouri-5-boys-track-2021-preseason-team-rankings Missouri Class 5 Boys Track 2021 Preseason Team RankingsRyan Taylor - Feb 23, 2021 Class 5 Boys Team Scores1st - Joplin - 51 points Triple JumpTriple Jump PLACE ATHLETEGRADE TEAM MARKPOINTS 1Johnny Brackins2021Lee's Summit 48-10.5 10 2 Keagan Roshell2021 Eureka 46-3 8 3Donovyn Fowler 2022Joplin 45-4 6 Long Jump PLACE ATHLETE GRADE TEAM MARKPOINTS 1Johnny Brackins 2021 Lee's Summit 25-1.5 10 2Marquis Johnson2021 Poplar Bluff 22-4 8 3 Hammond Chase2022 Lee's Summit West 21-7.25 6 4Donovyn Fowler 2022Joplin 21-6 5
Missouri Track's Long and Triple Jumpers to Watch in 2021 (milesplit.com) Missouri Track's Long and Triple Jumpers to Watch in 2021 Ryan Taylor - Feb 10, 2021 Johnny Brackins also holds the top returning triple jump with a 50-0.25 he jumped in indoor just a couple weeks ago. That's four whole feet farther than anyone in Missouri heading into the season, and is also the top triple jump in the United State this indoor season. Other athletes to watch include Keagan Roshell (Eureka), Mekhi Garrard (Webb City), Evan Bruenderman (Notre Dame), and Donovyn Fowler (Joplin).
Missouri Track's Top Returning Boys Triple Jumpers in 2021 (milesplit.com) Missouri Track's Top Returning Boys Triple Jumpers in 2021 Ryan Taylor - Feb 6, 2021 Below you can find the the top returning boys triple jumpers in each class for the 2021 track season. All marks are from the 2019 season since the 2020 season was canceled. Classifications are based on the 2020 system, we understand there will be some movement this year based on both enrollment changes and the new point system for private schools. Class 5 Boys Triple Jump #1 48FT -10.5in -JOHNNY BRACKINS - Lee's Summit High School Class of 2021 - Apr 12, 2019 #2 46FT 3 IN -KEAGAN ROSHELL - Eureka High School Class of 2021 - Apr 11, 2019- Apr 12, 2019 # 3 45FT -4IN -DONOVYN FOWLER - Joplin High School Class of 2022 - May 18, 2019 #4 44FT-11.5IN -JAYDEN KOUADIO - Ft. Zumwalt West High School Class of 2021 - May 25, 2019 #5 44FT-4IN -TRAYSHAWN THOMAS -Joplin High School Class of 2021- May 18, 2019
Missouri Track's Top Returning Boys Long Jumpers in 2021 (milesplit.com) Missouri Track's Top Returning Boys Long Jumpers in 2021 Ryan Taylor Feb 4, 2021 Below you can find the the top returning boys long jumpers in each class for the 2021 track season. All marks are from the 2019 season since the 2020 season was canceled. Classifications are based on the 2020 system, we understand there will be some movement this year based on both enrollment changes and the new point system for private schools. Class 5 Boys Long Jump #1 25FT-1.5IN - JOHNNY BRACKINS - Lee's Summit High School Class of 2021 - Apr 26, 2019 #2 22FT-4IN - MARQUIS JOHNSON - Poplar Bluff High School Class of 2021 - May 11, 2019 #3 22FT-0IN ERICK HILL - Rockhurst High School Class of 2021 - Apr 23, 2019 #4 21FT-7.25IN HAMMOND CHASE - Lee's Summit West High School Class of 2022 - May 3, 2019 #5 21FT-6IN DONOVYN FOWLER - Joplin High School Class of 2022 - Mar 28, 2019
https://www.milesplit.com/articles/290216-the-top-250-boys-indoor-jumps-returners-in 2021 Cory Mull -Dec 1, 2020 The Top 250 Boys Indoor Jumps Returners In 2021 Indoor Long Jump RANKING: 10th in the Nation , Jump: 23ft-0in DONOVYN FOWLER MO Joplin High School, Class of 2022 Qualified at: Mizzou HS Indoor Series Qualifying Meet #2 2nd place, Feb 9, 2020 Indoor Triple Jump RANKING: 12th in the nation, Jump: 46ft-4.25in DONOVYN FOWLER MO Joplin High School, Class of 2022 Qualified at: Mizzou HS Indoor Series Qualifying Meet #2 2nd, Feb 9, 2020
https://www.milesplit.com/articles/286428%7D-updated-milesplit50-class-of-2022-boys-recruit-rankings MileSplit50 -Garrett Zatlin -Sep 25, 2020 Updated MileSplit50 Class Of 2022 Boys Recruit Rankings Current Ranking 34 Previous Ranking 40 Donovyn Fowler Joplin (MO) A triple jump PR of 46-9w and a long jump mark of 21-8.75 gave Fowler two top-50 marks nationally during the spring/summer of 2019. Since then, he has earned a new PR in the long jump 23-0 and just seems to be on a tear. He'll continue to be a major talent over the next couple of years.
https://www.milesplit.com/articles/283790%7D-these-class-of-2022-boys-recruits-are-blue-chip-athletes These Class Of 2022 Boys Recruits Are Blue-Chip Athletes Recruiting Rundown - Garrett Zatlin - Aug 6, 2020 Donovyn Fowler (Joplin High School, MO) While I'm sure some people could suggest a few other names, I feel pretty confident saying that Fowler is the best all-around jumper in the Class of 2022. He was the top-ranked sophomore in the nation this past winter for the triple jump, posting a US No. 44 leap of 46-4.25. He was also the second-best long jumper amongst the Class of 2022, securing a PR of 23-0 (US No. 36). While there are absolutely other athletes in the country who have displayed great range and versatility between the jumps and other event areas, no one in the Class of 2022 has been able to dominate two of the three main jumping events like Fowler has.
Like countless prep athletes from across the state, Donovyn Fowler is eagerly awaiting an opportunity to compete this spring. A sophomore jumper on the Joplin High School track and field team, Fowler has been working out on his own with the spring sports season currently on hold. “It’s been a real bummer,” Fowler said. “I just want to get out there and compete.” There’s a reason why Fowler is eager to display his talents. Following a stellar indoor season in which he shined in both the triple jump and long jump, Fowler is listed as the Class of 2022’s No. 40 track and field recruit in the nation by MileSplit USA. “I feel blessed with the opportunities I’ve been given, and I really want the opportunity to show everybody what I can do,” Fowler said. Track and field has become a passion for Fowler ever since he first gave the sport a try as an eighth grader. “Before I did track I played a lot of travel basketball,” Fowler said. “I just decided to try track in eighth grade. I think I was naturally good at it, so I stuck with it.” After his eighth-grade year, and still new to the jumps, Fowler medaled in both the long jump and triple jump at the AAU Junior Olympics in Des Moines, Iowa. As a prep rookie for the Joplin Eagles, Fowler finished ninth in the Class 5 triple jump (44 feet, 6 inches) at last year’s state track meet. The lone freshman competing in the event, Fowler missed the awards podium by only a couple of inches. “State was kind of scary,” Fowler said. “I was the only freshman and I saw all these upperclassmen that looked like grown men. But I was pretty happy with my freshman year overall.” Fowler, who said teammates and fellow state qualifiers Zach Westmoreland and Trayshawn Thomas helped push him in practice all of last spring, took a big step forward last summer at the AAU Junior Olympics in Greensboro, North Carolina, as he placed third in his age division in the triple jump with a personal best of 46-9. He continued to work on his craft this past winter. “I wasn’t doing a winter sport, so I decided to go to a few indoor meets,” Fowler said. The Mizzou Indoor Series Qualifying Meet on Feb. 9 in Columbia proved to be a big one for Fowler as he recorded a leap of 46-4.25 in the triple jump and went a personal best 23 feet in the long jump. According to MileSplit USA, Fowler’s mark in the triple jump is tops in the country for sophomores who competed during the indoor season, while his long jump distance ranks second by just 1.5 inches. Both jumps are ranked inside the nation’s top-50 marks for all ages. Fowler noted hard work and a natural jumping ability have been keys to his success. “My dad (Troy) is a personal trainer and he’s helped train me,” Fowler said. “I’ve spent a lot of time in the gym with him, and I’ve really worked on the core muscle groups.” Fowler added he’s set some lofty goals for the spring, including setting school records and earning state medals in both events. Practices are tentatively scheduled to resume on April 25. Until then, Fowler will continue to putting in the work on his own, with hopes of eventually displaying his talents. “Coach (Curtis) Jasper and Coach (Brandon) Taute have been sending out daily workouts,” Fowler said. “I’ve been doing those, and I’ve also gotten creative to add something to them.” In addition to running sprints on the road near his home, Fowler has been doing box jumps onto the bed of a pickup truck. Donovyn’s mother, Shawn Fowler, said she’s been proud of her son’s dedication and hopes to see him on the track sooner than later. “It’s been fun to watch him have success,” she said. “And I know it’s been tough for him and all the kids to be stuck at home. I know he really wants to get on the podium at state this year. I hope he gets the chance.”
Who's Up Next: 24 Sophomores For Your Radar (milesplit.com) Who's Up Next: 24 Sophomores For Your Radar By: Kyle Deeken - May 16, 2020 Boys - JUMPS Talk about an indoor season breakthrough. Joplin's Donovyn Fowler was gearing up to climb the national rankings this spring after dropping a massive personal best in the long jump and nearly matching his wind-aided triple jump best. The 23 foot jump he unleashed at his lone indoor meet ranked him tied for 35th overall and 2nd among sophomores nationally, as well as 3rd overall in Missouri and well ahead of the second best Show-Me State sophomore. In the triple jump, Fowler cleared 46-4.25, just off his 46-9 (+2.4) from last summer's AAU Junior Olympics, but tops nationally among all sophomores on the indoor circuit. Now ranked 40th in Milesplit's Class of 2022 Recruiting Rankings, Fowler is on his way to becoming a national talent, especially after adding over 15 inches to his long jump lifetime best.
https://mo.milesplit.com/articles/280951%7D-projecting-this-years-top-4-teams-in-classes-3-4-and-5 Projecting This Year's Top 4 Teams in Classes 3, 4, and 5 MSHSAA Class 3,4,5 State Championships - Cancelled By: Kyle Deeken - May 29, 2020 3. Joplin Top Returners/Freshmen: Zach Westmoreland, Isaiah Davis, Micah Bruggeman, Donovyn Fowler, Nathan Glades, Evan Northcut, Trayshawn Thomas.Isaiah Potential Point Opportunities: 800, 1600, 3200, 4x100, 4x200, 300 Meter Hurdles, Long Jump, Triple Jump, Javelin Summary: The Joplin Eagles were going to rely heavily on the strength of their field event titans this spring - namely: Zach Westmoreland, Isaiah Davis, and Donovyn Fowler - but appeared to be well-rounded enough to make a run at a team championship in Class 5. Westmoreland and Davis were the two best returning javelin throwers after posting personal bests of 194-6 and 189-6 and going 1-3 at last year's state championships. It was once again not impossible that they would take the top two spots this season. Westmoreland, one of the best all-around athletes in the state, was also poised to contribute points in the long jump after finishing 6th in the event last season while also running legs on the 4x100 and 4x200 as he did at last year's state meet. Fowler, one of the nation's up-and-coming sophomores in the horizontal jumps, returned for the 2020 season as the 5th best triple jumper in Class 5 and was bringing a shiny new 23-0 clearance from the indoor season with him. Trayshawn Thomas qualified for state with Fowler in the triple jump last season and boasts a 44-4 personal best. On the track, Joplin picked up points in the 800, 1600, and 300 Meter Hurdles last May from twp key returners. Micah Bruggeman, who will be back for the 2021 season, too, was the third best returner in both the 800 and 1600 this spring with personal bests of 1:55.72 and 4:18.99 respectively. He and teammate Evan Northcutt both boast bests in the 3200 under 9:50 and are coming off cross country seasons in which they ran personal bests in the 5K, even with a shortened season in Northcutt's case.Nathan Glades finished 8th in the 300 Meter Hurdles and returned for 2020 in 5th with his 39.97 best. In the relays, Joplin returned all four of their 4x800 squad which ran 8:10.05 in 2019 and three members of their state qualifying 4x100 and 4x200 squads, further helping us predict Joplin would have finished high up on the podium as a team this spring
The 2018 AAU Junior Olympic Games Jumps Preview AAU Junior Olympic Games Cory Mull - Jul 20, 2018 Boys Triple Jump 13yo: Jaylen Lloyd, Nebraska Jaguars, 38-0.5 14yo: Donovyn Fowler, CJ Freedom, 40-0 15-16yo: Jacob Jenkins, XTreme Force, 46-0 17-18yo: Deandre Stapleton, Duncanville, 48-8.5