Kansas City junior long jumper Jake Peister sits in front of the landing pit on April 10 in the Indoor Athletic Complex.
Every time Jake Peister competes, he pays tribute to his childhood friend.
“I play for my best friend in high school who made the decision to take his own life,” Peister said.
Peister’s friend, Joey, was a sophomore when he committed suicide. Joey was a fellow triple jumper on Peister’s track team who was dedicated to his sport and never missed practice. Joey's passion for the sport has pushed Peister to excel on Central Michigan's track team as the seventh-ranked triple jumper in the Great Lakes Region.