Boys' Triple Jump
Darian Alston is the heavy favorite in the boys' triple jump on Sunday (Photo by Lex Mercado)
Alston looks to keep up breakthrough 2016 season
The top six from a year ago at the state meet have since
graduated, ushering in a new era of triple jumping in PA. This year,
Downingtown West's Darian Alston has taken the reigns. He's spent practically
the entire season at PA#1, and it hasn't really been close. He's only competed
in the triple three times this year, but Alston's 48-9 at Ocean Breeze makes
him the top seed by over three feet. He's also US#6.
His top competition could come from a former state champion in the event outdoors: DeShawn Millington of Carlisle. Millington's been busy this year on the basketball court, but he managed to get a state qualifier in at the end of January on a rare Sunday meet in Susquehanna. Millington admitted to PennTrackXC's Barb Krohn that he hasn't done much jumping this winter, but he still shouldn't be taken lightly at the state meet. He has, after all, jumped past 49 feet outdoors.
Marcques Gibbs of Upper Darby had a great performance at the TFCAofGP Meet of Champs that he'll look to build on Sunday (Photo by Patty Morgan)
PA#2 Marcques Gibbs of Upper Darby has put together a solid season in the event. Gibbs won big at this past weekend's Meet of Champs, going 45-7. Caleb Appiah-Owusu of Bensalem is the only other returning medalist besides Alston. He told us he has his sights set on a state title, and he'll need a monster effort on Sunday, but he's been very consistent this season.
Hershey's Treyvon Wheelings, Central Bucks East's Alex Parasky, and the long jump favorite Kellin Valentine will look to make it interesting. Like the long jump, predicting medal positions is futile, as not much separates the entries.
Event 30 Boys Triple Jump (15)
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9 to the finals
State Meet: 49-10.50 3/6/2010 Carlton Lavong, Methacton
Name Year School Seed Mark
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1 Alston, Darian 12 D-Town West 48-09.00
2 Gibbs, Marcques 12 Upper Darby 45-07.00
3 Millington, Deshawn Carlisle 45-02.50
4 Appiah-Owusu, Caleb 12 Bensalem 44-10.75
5 Wheelings, Treyvon 10 Milton Hershey 44-10.50
6 Parasky, Alex 12 CB East 44-09.50
7 Valentine, Kellin 12 State College 44-06.75
8 Long, Alex 12 Western Wayn 44-05.00
9 Dillard, Ravaughn 11 Gettysburg A 44-02.00
10 Becker, Evan 12 CB East 44-00.75
11 Hall, Ache 11 Springfield (D) 44-00.00
12 Ludlow, Matt 11 Pennridge 43-06.00
13 Njenga, Mark 12 Ephrata 43-03.25
14 Gilbert, Gavin 11 NE Bedford 43-03.00
15 Johnson, Ahmir 10 Wissahickon 43-02.50