Boys' Long Jump Preview
It's going to be a very exciting matchup between the state's best for the long jump state title.
The one to beat is Ezra Mellinger of Lampeter Strasburg. The Duke-bound senior was third at indoor states, but he's been even better this season, and better yet, very consistent. Mellinger jumped 23-08.5 twice this season before his PR and US#9 leap of 23-11.5. He'll look to grab his first career state gold on Sunday.
He'll get some great competition, though, from State College Area's Jake Hefkin. The senior put down a big PA#2 jump of 23-04.5 at Penn State last week. It's a statement that Hefkin can give Mellinger a run for his money here.
After the top two, 13 others have season bests in the 22-foot range, which will make this a competitive battle to to bottom for state medals. Hickory's Brian Phillips is having a very strong winter, which included a best leap of 22-10 at Youngstown State this past weekend.
Lance Hamilton of State College, the top seed in the triple jump, will make some noise in the long jump. He was fourth a year ago at states and will contend for an even better finish this year with a season best of 22-08.5. McDowell's Caleb Mabins (season best of 22-06) is another returning medalist in this field back again. Spring Grove's Colson Martin and Manheim Township's Titan Cox are two other returners from last year's state meet that just missed the top eight.
Jaden Price-Whitehead of Upper Dublin is just a sophomore, but he's having a solid year in the long. His best of 22-9.5 has him at PA#4 coming into the weekend.
Entries:
Event 28 Boys Long Jump (16)
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Meet Record: 24-04.50 3/4/1989 Ron Dickerson, State College
Name Year School
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1 Coaxum, Larry 12 Garnet Valle
2 Dworek, Bryan 12 Brookville
3 Fernandez, Moryelle 12 Bellefonte
4 Hamilton, Lance 12 State College
5 Hamilton, Stanley 12 State College
6 Hefkin, Jake 12 State College
7 Kimbrough, Trent 12 New Castle
8 Lomax, Jakari 12 Harrisburg H
9 Mabins, Caleb 12 McDowell
10 Martin, Colson 11 Spring Grove
11 Mellinger, Ezra 12 Lampeter Str
12 O'Malley, Brendan 12 Baldwin
13 Phillips, Brian 12 Hickory
14 Price-Whitehead, Jaden 10 Upper Dublin
15 Teague, Daeshawn 12 Liberty
16 Williams, Tayvon 12 Penn Wood