THE CANADIAN PRESS

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TORONTO - The low - hanging shorts were a dead giveaway.

High-flying basketball star Justin Darlington finished fifth in men's high jump Saturday at the Canadian track and field championships at Varsity Stadium. The 20-year-old Toronto native finished with a leap of 2.05 metres, just shy of his personal best of 2.10.

Darlington, who became a YouTube sensation with his array of breathtaking dunks, said he's still trying to get comfortable in his new sport.

"I still feel weird after switching from basketball," said Darlington. "Its still weird to this day every time my coach tells me to do something new and technical. It feels extremely weird and I have to get used to it."

Montreal-based track and field coach Daniel St. Hilaire was pleased with Darlington's effort.

"This is just Justin's fourth outdoor meet," said St. Hilaire, a former high jumper who also doubles as the athletes manager. "I keep telling people he's still raw and he's like a beginner starting at the half-way point in this sport.

"There's no limit to what he can do and I will take him to Europe this summer to get into a few meets. I don't have time to lose with him."

St. Hilaire predicts Darlington will be on Canada's team for the 2012 London Olympics.

"My goal is to put him on that plane heading to England and he will be on the podium," said St. Hilaire. "He will become the best high jumper on this planet."

Darlington, who will be moving to Montreal to attend McGill University and be closer his coach, said he was not overwhelmed by the competition or the large crowd in his first national meet.

"I have been in a few bigger crowds, so it was not that tough and I was not as nervous as usual," said Darlington, who performed a cartwheel while doing a spectacular dunk before 14,000 French fans last year.

"I wanted to clear 2.10 for sure and I wanted to at least attempt 2.15. I attempted it twice but never got a chance to clear it."

Derek Watkins of Windsor won the high jump with a leap of 2.18 metres. Mark Dillon finished second for the second straight year, ahead of 2008 winner Michael Mason.

Mark Boswell holds the national record of 2.35 metres set seven years ago.