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Canadian high jumper gears up for competition
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (CP) -- Mike Caza doesn't compete at the Commonwealth Games until next weekend, but the high jumper from Chatham, Ont., has already run the event in his mind over and over again.High jumping is as much about mental preparation as it is about technique so the 24-year-old makes a point to sit down and visualize every aspect of the competition.
"I'd say 75 per cent is mental, especially at this point in the game," Caza said. "I started training 10 months ago and all the physical (work) is now behind you. . . . Right now it's the mental touch-ups that are going to make the biggest difference."
Caza is getting help on that score from his coach, Milt Ottey. The former Canadian star jumper coached Caza at Kent State and still holds the Canadian record of 2.33 metres. He has been in touch with Ottey via e-mail.
Caza's personal best is 2.25 but figures he may have to better that to win a medal. He is ranked sixth in the Commonwealth going into the competition.
The NCAA all-American has been making the most of his time in Kuala Lumpur, adjusting to the time and weather. Unlike many of the athletes here, he likes the heat.
"I like it hotter actually," he said. "Especially in an event like high jump, because you're sitting around so much. And one of your biggest fears is to cool down. Here it's really easy to stay warm. They're provided us with a lot of fluids so it's not a big issue."
Caza is also used to the heat having spent one year at LSU in Louisiana before transferring to Kent State to work with Ottey.
Ottey's record speaks for itself, with two Commonwealth gold medals to his credit. He's also a shorter high jumper like Caza, who's five-foot-11.
"He's basically the reason why I've succeeded up to this point in my career," Caza said.
"He's big a big influence. He's taught me a lot of the tactics of the event and what it takes to succeed at this level."
High jumpers usually peak at 27 or 28, according to Caza, who hopes to follow the Games by going to the 1999 world championships and the 2000 Olympics.
He is set to graduate this December and may then follow Ottey to the University of New Mexico to train.
Caza is also looking forward to taking a month off in the fall, when he plans to return to Chatham to visit friends and family.