Technology has advanced to the point where athletes can access their statistics – and compare them with others – in a matter of seconds.

For Talan Alfrey, that was not a positive.

The Auburn Mountainview sophomore glanced at the top performances in the Class 3A triple jump early in the season and came away dismayed.

Alfrey then approached the school’s throws coach, Kent Rodseth, who said Alfrey asked that he be removed from the event “because he saw so many kids in front of him.”

Rodseth said he and the other coaches reassured Alfrey that he’d had some strong jumps and was improving in the event.

That discussion proved fortuitous as Alfrey, who qualified for Star Track XXXIV, which runs through Saturday at Mount Tahoma High School in Tacoma, won the triple jump in both the league and district meets the last two weeks. And, as Rodseth predicted, Alfrey has continued to get better.

Entering the South Puget Sound League 3A meet, Auburn Riverside’s Rashon Miller had a seed mark of 43-3½, which was more than 2 feet longer than any of his opponents. But Alfrey jumped a personal-best 43-10 to win the meet. He topped that with a 45-10¼ mark in the West Central/Southwest bi-district meet last Saturday.

“What he’s doing is pretty typical of all young, inexperienced kind of jumpers,” said Rodseth, adding that Alfrey has worked hard to develop his technique. “He takes in every bit of coaching you can give him and he goes out and competes.”

It also does not hurt to possess natural athleticism. His parents played sports in high school. Trever Alfrey also competed in track and field at Montana State, where his 7.6-second mark in the 55-meter hurdles in 1993 still ranks eighth in program history.

Alfrey said his father’s perspective was important after he suffered one of his few disappointments of the season by fouling out during last Friday’s long jump and missing a state berth.

“He wanted me to come out here and bounce back,” he said.

Rodseth knew that would not be an issue.

“With him it seems like the bigger the stage, the more relaxed and competitive he gets,” he said. “It’s awesome to see that.”

That comes with experience. When standout quarterback Gresch Jensen missed the Oct. 29 contest against Enumclaw, Alfrey stepped in and helped the Lions to a 21-17 victory. He also played defensive back to help Auburn Mountainview reach state.

The 6-foot-2 Alfrey was also a forward on the Lions’ boys basketball team, which advanced to state.

He said he maintains a simple perspective that enables him to achieve success.

“I just focus on the one I’m in,” Alfrey said. “I listen to my coaches and keep competing.”

Others insist Alfrey has another secret for success. As he outjumped his competition from Lincoln at the district meet, some noted that Alfrey, who has a full beard, “looks like he is 45.”

“I get that a lot,” said Alfrey, adding that he might shave it off after the state meet.

Until then, Alfrey has no desire to change what’s working. In addition to the long jump, he also has qualified for state in the 400-meter relay with Vaughn Daggs, Campbell Friend and Cannon Sires. That team finished second in 42.93 seconds behind Lincoln at districts.

Rodseth sees it as just the beginning for Alfrey.

“He’s only a sophomore,” he said. “He’s going to get bigger, faster and stronger.”

Alfrey has the eighth-best mark in all Washington classifications in the triple jump this year, and while he would love to win the championship, he recognizes it will be a difficult quest.

“It definitely is going to be hard, but I’ve got two more years to reach that,” he said. “I’m going to try and get on the podium this year.”

For Alfrey, who began playing an array of sports shortly after he started school and would love to continue in athletics after his playing days conclude – perhaps in sports medicine – it has been a gratifying journey to this point.

And none have been more satisfying than the long jump.

“I’m just really happy right now,” Alfrey said. “I always am expecting to go farther, but I didn’t expect to go that far.”