When Derby Public School Superintendent Matthew Conway called David Bishop Wednesday morning for a chat, Bishop didn’t believe his ears.
“I almost hung up on him. I thought someone was playing a joke,” said Bishop, 71.
Conway called to let Bishop know that a Derby athlete had — after 54 years — finally broken Bishop’s high jump record, set when he attended Derby High School in 1961.
It wasn’t a prank.
“I was happy to hear it,” said Bishop, a Derby resident and retired postal worker.
But he was even happier when Conway invited him to the Nutmeg Avenue campus Wednesday to meet 18-year-old Eric Hicks, the quiet and friendly young man who now holds the Derby High School record.
Hicks tied Bishop’s jump of 6 feet, 1 inch last week. Then, during a track meet at Naugatuck High School Tuesday, he broke Bishop’s record by clearing 6 feet, 4 inches.
Here is video of the feat, courtesy of video shot by Derby High School student Peter D’Antona.
Bishop and Hicks met after school Wednesday, flanked by Conway, Derby High School Principal Martin Pascale, assistant principal Rachael Artaiz, track coach Nick DiLuggo and Bill Pucci, a retired sports editor who ran track with Bishop while at Derby High (see photo below).
“There’s the young fellow,” Bishop said upon seeing Hicks. The two shook hands. “Congratulations. I’m very happy for you. That’s quite a feat you did there.”
Hicks seemed as surprised as anyone that he made the jump at Naugatuck. The Derby team had been impressive during the meet, but Hicks was tired from all the running. He had his eyes on breaking the Derby record, but wasn’t sure his legs were up to the task.
“My legs weren’t the best, but I got over it,” he said.
The jump qualified Hicks for a national competition.
His jump is especially impressive considering it’s only his second year on the track team.
DiLuggo, his coach, said Hicks is one of several talented young athletes on the team.
“Eric is very laid back. He does whatever you ask him to do. He is a real gamer,” DiLuggo said.
Bishop Wednesday was all smiles after chatting with Hicks for a few minutes.
Pucci thinks Bishop’s high-jump was the longest-running record within Derby athletics.
“I retired as the sports editor for the Valley Times, but I used do to a column,” he said. “‘You know you are old if you remember Dave Bishop’s high jump record.’”
