​​After a chilly, rainy spring, Joel Addo is looking for things to heat up during the Division I boys track and field postseason.

The Olentangy Orange senior high-jumper hopes to set the program record in the event and improve on his performance in the state meet, where he finished sixth (6 feet, 4 inches) last year.

Addo geared up for the postseason at the OCC-Central Division meet May 12 and 14 at Hilliard Bradley.

“I jumped a (personal-best) 6-6 earlier in the year,” he said. “I have had some good attempts at 6-7, and I think I’m capable of getting that. You can’t control the weather so you have to keep the mindset that you have to jump your highest no matter what the weather is.”

Addo entered the league meet on the heels of 2018 graduate Jayden Rodgers, who had the program record of 6-6 1/4.

“I know (getting the program record) is his goal, and he should get it if the weather is better,” coach Adam Walters said. “This year we have had some pretty crappy weather. If he gets a few days of sunshine and 80 (degrees), then 6-7, 6-8 is a possibility for him.”

The Pioneers endured “crappy weather” May 6 while winning the boys and girls team titles in the home Delaware County Invitational. Addo withstood steady rain to win the high jump (6-2) and place second in the long jump (21-11 3/4) to teammate Jordan Rudolph (22-0).

“Delaware was big for him,” said assistant coach Tyler Pierce, who works with the high-jumpers. “Typically, he doesn’t do his best when the weather is bad and it was raining pretty much that whole time.

“He came out and didn’t take things for granted. Even in his misses, it’s just a little tweak here and a little tweak there. Once he puts it all together and gets some nice weather, it’s a matter of just how high he can go.”

Addo burst onto the scene as a freshman when he finished sixth at regional in the high jump (6-4). The 2020 season was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and he missed most of his junior season with a strain in his right knee.

“I hurt my right knee, which was unfortunate because it was my jump leg,” Addo said. “I learned that it was a lot of work to return from an injury as quickly as I did. I went through some physical therapy; I was stretching, exercising and icing every day. I also had to wear a knee brace for a while. I was allowed to take it off when I competed.”

Now, Addo is finally getting a chance to show his potential.

“Last year, Joel didn’t jump until district, and he ended up making it out to state,” Walters said. “This is the first year that we have had a chance to develop. He’s taller and faster, and I think his head is in the right place to do both long jump and high jump this year.”

Addo also played basketball for the Pioneers, which Walters calls “just great jump practice.”

Pierce agreed that basketball made Addo a better jumper.

“Joel is really good athletically, and he’s a really good basketball player,” Pierce said. “A lot of that transfers over to the high jump. He is really good at controlling his body over the bar. He has that natural ability to jump really well.”

Addo doesn’t plan to compete in track at the next level. He has a 3.9 GPA and plans to major in engineering at Ohio State.

“(Studying) helps keep my priorities in check,” he said. “I know I’m not going to be running track forever, but being a good student helps me manage my time and helps me with skills I will be doing the rest of my life.”