AAA Boys' Long Jump Preview
Ayden Owens has plenty of state golds in the hurdles, but the North Allegheny senior is looking to add a state title in a different event this weekend: the long jump. Owens will be going for his third straight AAA crown in the 300-meter hurdles and second straight in the 110-meter hurdles, but a state win in the long jump remains on that bucket list.
At the WPIAL Championships, Owens hit a threshold he's been on the cusp of for some time. He leapt 24-00.5 for the win, breaking that 24 foot barrier for the first time in his career. After missing out on the indoor state crown in the LJ by a mere quarter inch, he'll be hungry for another shot at gold.
But the AAA field is deep. The indoor state champ that inched-out Owens will be there. George Washington's Edner Dorwil jumped 22-10 for the District 12 title. He'll be one to watch. State College Area's Lance Hamilton leapt a nice PR of 23-08.75 to win at District 6. Look for him to contend after a fourth place finish at indoor states.
Franklin Regional's Jacob Shedd, William Tennent's Markeith Baxter, Lampeter-Strasburg's Ezra Mellinger (third at indoor states), State College's Jake Hefkin, and Scranton's Ky'ron Harbin have all posted jumps of better than 23 feet this season, too. Harbin took ninth at states last spring.
The top returner from states last year, though, is Romaine Rhoden of Lower Merion. He's hitting his stride at the right time, just like he did a year ago when he grabbed third at states. Rhoden just repeated as District 1 champ and will be a factor again this weekend in Ship.
East Stroudsburg North's Justin Miller, Saint Joseph's Prep's Isaiah Ritchie, and McDowell's Caleb Mabins are among the others in this very deep LJ field.
ENTRIES:
Event 714 Boys Long Jump AAA (34)
===============================================================================
NFHS Record: 26-04.75 1989 James Stallworth, TulareHS, CA
PIAA Record: 25-05.25 1988 Dion Bentley, Penn Hills 7
NFHS Hnr Rol: 24-00
22-00.00 SQS
Name Year School Seed Mark Finals
===============================================================================
1 Owens, Ayden 12 No Allegheny 07 24-00.50 SQS
2 Hamilton, Lance 11 State College 06 23-08.75 SQS
3 Harbin, Ky'ron 12 Scranton 02 23-00.25 SQS
4 Hefkin, Jake 11 State College 06 22-11.75 SQS
5 Rhoden, Romaine 12 Lower Merion 01 22-10.50 SQS
6 Miller, Justin 12 ES North 11 22-10.50 SQS
7 Dorwil, Edner 12 Geo Washingtn 12 22-10.00 SQS
8 Mellinger, Ezra 11 Lamp Strasbrg 03 22-09.50 SQS
9 Ritchie, Isaiah 12 St Joseph's 12 22-09.00 SQS
10 Mabins, Caleb 11 McDowell 10 22-08.25 SQS
11 Fernandez, Moryelle 11 Bellefonte 06 22-08.25 SQS
12 Baxter, Markeith 12 Wm Tennent 01 22-08.25 SQS
13 O'Malley, Brendan 11 Baldwin 07 22-07.50 SQS
14 Howard, Jacob 12 Pottstown 01 22-07.25 SQS
15 Jackson, Courtney 11 Gateway 07 22-07.00 SQS
16 Teague, Daeshawn 11 Liberty 11 22-06.50 SQS
17 Barbon, Jose 12 Conestoga Val 03 22-06.25 SQS
18 Adams, Connor 11 Altoona Area 06 22-05.50 SQS
19 Shedd, Jacob 12 Franklin Reg 07 22-05.50 SQS
20 Singleton, Nasir 12 Gen McLane 10 22-04.00 SQS
21 Horan, Cole 12 Coughlin 02 22-03.25 SQS
22 Moreta, Eudel 12 Hempfield 07 22-02.50 SQS
23 Martin, Hunter 11 Belle Vernon 07 22-02.50 SQS
24 Haynes, Javonte 11 Liberty 11 22-02.50 SQS
25 Jones, Anthony 12 Bangor Area 11 22-02.00 SQS
26 Patrick, Derrick 11 Crdnl O'Hara 12 22-01.50 SQS
27 Martin, Colson 10 Spring Grove 03 21-10.50
28 Ahmed, Patrick 11 Coatesville 01 21-10.50
29 Duncan, Marshall 12 CB East 01 21-10.00
30 Ressler, Darien 11 Hempfield 03 21-03.00
31 Cox, Titan 11 Manheim Twp 03 21-01.75
32 Masser, Joey 10 Shamokin Area 04 21-01.25
33 Johnson, Negus 12 Susquehnn Twp 03 20-11.75
34 Meinert, Jordan 11 DuBois Area 09 20-06.00