PTFCA Indoor States Preview: Girls' Field


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)
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 Meet Record:  20-01.25  3/5/1994    Angie Brown, Villa Maria Academy          
     Name                        Year School                                
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  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