Girls' Long Jump Preview
Expect a very close battle for the state title in the long jump. The top five girls in the state have season best jumps within four inches of each other.
The top seed coming in is Tia Taylor of Saint Basil Academy. Third as a freshman last year, Taylor comes in this year with a best jump of 18-10.75, which leads the state. She's had a consistent season (4 jumps of 18 or further), competed at Millrose, and won the DVGTCA Meet of Champs. She'll look to add state gold on Sunday.
Casey Burton of North Allegheny will be a factor on Sunday. She was ninth last year and just outside the medals. She hasn't long jumped since early January, but Burton is a fast and talented jumper that will be motivated this weekend. North Penn's Natalie Kwortnik took fifth a year ago at states. She's a quick veteran, who leaped her season best of 18-7.75 last week and is certainly capable of taking the top spot.
A pair of versatile seniors -- Perkiomen Valley's Christina Warren and Oakland Catholic's Jayla Ellis -- come in with season bests of 18-07. Warren was sixth a year ago, while Ellis was eighth. Neither can't be counted out here.
Four others have jumped 18 feet or better: Marissa Hsu (Council Rock North), Lyric Janosik (Penn Cambria), Sasha Lee (Saint Basil), and Brianna Smith (Cheltenham). In this open field, any of these girls could truly make a run at a very high finish.
Last year saw the top three separated by just two inches. In fact, four girls jumped over 19 feet at states. The long jump on Sunday will simply come down to who pops the big one on the right day.
Entries:
Event 27 Girls Long Jump (16) =============================================================================== Meet Record: 20-01.25 3/5/1994 Angie Brown, Villa Maria Academy Name Year School =============================================================================== 1 Adams, Olabisi 12 Spside Chestnut 2 Burton, Casey 11 North Allegh 3 Ellis, Jayla 12 Oakland Cath 4 Foster, Averie 11 Exeter 5 Frazier, Darcie 12 Hollidaysbur 6 Furtick, Taliyah 11 Mstery Chtr Pick 7 Hsu, Marissa 12 CR North 8 Janosik, Lyric 11 Penn Cambria 9 Kwortnik, Natalie 12 North Penn 10 Lee, Sasha 10 St Basil Acad 11 McKean, Sara 12 Oswayo Valley 12 Recce, Gabriella 11 Central Daupin 13 Shell, Inara 10 Friends' Central 14 Smith, Brianna 11 Cheltenham 15 Taylor, Tia 10 St Basil Acad 16 Warren, Christina 12 Perk Valley