Southern Miss senior Zayne Palomino, an accomplished track and field athlete, is gearing up for another record-breaking season. A standout in the high jump, Palomino clinched the Sun Belt Conference title and earned a spot at the NCAA Indoor Championships this past spring, where he was ranked the 5th best collegiate high jumper in the world. As only the third Golden Eagle in history to qualify for the NCAA Championships, and with Olympic trials experience under his belt, Palomino’s sights are set on making even bigger leaps in his final year.
“The whole season last year was a humbling experience,” said Palomino. “I want to beat my personal record every match.”
His passion for high jumping started in his childhood while attending elementary school in Jamaica. After seeing an athlete perform the sport, he was inspired to try it himself. Palomino lived in Jamaica until the age of 13, when he moved to the U.S. during middle school on a soccer scholarship to attend a school in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
At just 16 years-old, Palomino earned a spot on the professional soccer team, Inter Miami. In his earlier years, he balanced both track and soccer, with the tryout for Inter Miami happening during his track season. Out of the top 100 soccer players in Florida, Palomino made it through the cuts to the top 60 and top 35 but narrowly missed the final selection.
“I believe it was a blessing in disguise because it would’ve been too strict, and they wouldn’t let me continue track,” said Palomino.
Palomino admitted that he loved soccer more at the time but stopped doing it after the tryout. He said that when he originally started track, he wasn’t the best and only had one offer in high school. Although scouts weren’t observing his track abilities, he wanted to continue in the sport and be the best he could.
Palomino competed in the Olympic trials this year, returning to Jamaica after a series of impressive achievements. When he first joined USM, he was clearing heights of 6’11”. By January, he had surpassed his personal best, reaching 7’2”. At the trials, he came just four inches short of qualifying for the Olympics, achieving a 7’2” jump but needing 7’7” to advance.
Palomino attributes his success in the high jump to studying the sport beyond practice, analyzing tapes of professionals, himself, and others. He avoids training outside of scheduled practices to prevent overworking his body, aiming for longevity in his athletic career by minimizing physical strain.
As a Sun Belt conference champion, Palomino feels no pressure to excel in his sport, attributing his confidence to the hard work and dedication he’s already put in. The only time he experienced pressure was during the Olympic trials. In collegiate matches, however, he approaches the competition with a fearless mindset.
“I’m highly confident of my abilities at matches because that’s what I have to do to beat my personal record,” said Palomino. “People may say I seem cocky at matches because I’m focused and calm. But I have a drive to always look for the next big moment, and that’s what I have to do to surpass the bar.”
Palomino’s future goals are to get signed to a professional track and field team and have a lengthy career in high jumping. He is pleased with his several achievements and strives for another championship.
