John Neufeld

Athlete (1997)

Track and Field

John Neufeld holds Saskatchewan men's high jumping records, both outdoors and indoors. He achieved the No. 1 rating outdoors with 2.16 metres and three times he has reached 2.15 metres indoors.

John, originally from Regina, was a member of strong Regina high school track teams, winning and setting the Saskatchewan high school record in 1980. He was also Canadian junior champion in 1980. He was chosen as a Saskatchewan team member at the 1981 Jeux Canada Games at Thunder Bay.

He became the first Prairie athlete to jump more than seven feet (2.14 metres) in 1982.

After joining the University of Saskatchewan Huskies, John left his mark in the college record books. He was Canada West champion and bronze medalist nationally in 1983. He won silver in Canada West and bronze at the nationals in 1984. He won the Canada West gold in 1985. He capped off his college career by winning both the Canada West and the Canadian championship in 1987, taking the Canadian crown with a jump of 2.15 metres.

He has also been Saskatchewan champion 10 times, champion at the Western Canada Summer Games and Canadian junior indoor meet, Canadian senior indoor silver medalist and four-time Canadian senior indoor bronze medalist.

John has also coached Western Canada and Canada Games teams, National Legion jump teams, Canadian junior teams, was head coach at the University of Saskatchewan in 1995-1996 and coached with Saskatchewan Athletics.