Brian Kaufmann (Upper Dublin) / Photo by Patty Morgan
Boys' Long Jump Preview
One of this year's most improved and one its most consistent, Brian Kaufmann of Upper Dublin leads a talented class of long jumpers into Saturday at the state meet.
Kaufmann, who didn't even make the state meet last year (indoors or outdoors) will enter Penn State this weekend as the favorite for gold in the long jump. Kaufmann is undefeated in the long this year, jumping at least 22 feet in every meet and posting a best of 22-3.5 at the Last Chance Meet.
This event has been home to surprise winners, though, and there's a good group of jumpers going for the upset this weekend.
At PA#2 is Jose Barbon of Conestoga Valley. Barbon was ninth, just outside the medals at states last year. Surely, the junior is hungry to improve upon that this time around. Germantown Academy's Kyle Garland could be a threat as well. Garland is most known for his efforts in the hurdles and high jump, but the junior jumped a PA#3 22-7 at the Carnival. He's in three events on Saturday, but the long jump will come first.
St. Joe's Prep's Isaiah Ritchie will be a factor, too. Ritchie was 12th last year, but he hit a lifetime best of 22-3.75 in early February to put him at PA#4. Schuylkill Valley's Brendan Sparr is tied with Ritchie at the fourth spot. Sparr was the outdoor AA champ last spring and has jumped 23-11.25 outdoors. Sparr was seventh at indoor states last winter.
Wissahickon's Ahmir Johnson is another one of the state's most improved jumpers. Johnson is at PA#6 and should be in the mix on Saturday. Alex Sislo of LaSalle was fifth last year at indoor states---the best place of any returner. He enters Saturday at PA#7. Meadville's Journey Brown is tied with Sislo. Brown is one of the favorites in 60m dash, but he could also be looking at a medal in the long jump.
Altoona Area's Daiquain Watson, Upper Saint Clair's Harvey Kane, and Mercersburg's Mikale Williams are others that could factor into the medal conversation on Saturday in the long jump.
Boys' Long Jump Entries:
Event 28 Boys Long Jump (15)
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9 to the finals
State Meet: 24-04.50 3/4/1989 Ron Dickerson, State College
Name Year School
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1 Barbon, Jose 11 Conestoga Valley
2 Brown, Journey 12 Meadville
3 Garland, Kyle 11 Germantown Acad
4 Johnson, Ahmir 11 Wissahickon
5 Kane, Harvey 12 Upper St Clair
6 Kaufmann, Brian 12 Upper Dublin
7 Ludlow, Matt 12 Pennridge
8 Ranieri, Dantae 11 Hopewell
9 Ritchie, Isaiah 11 St Joe Prep
10 Sislo, Alex 12 LaSalle Coll
11 Sparr, Brendan 11 Schuylkill Val
12 Vandusen, Brian 12 Ringgold
13 Watson, Daiquain 12 Altoona
14 Wildermuth, Evan 12 Penncrest
15 Williams, Mikale 12 Mercersburg