Boys' Long Jump Preview
Upper Dublin's Jaden Price-Whitehead leaped to PA No. 2 all-time this past week, becoming just the second boy in state history to jump 25 feet in the long jump. He went 25 even to win at the TFCAofGP Meet of Champions. With that, the junior sensation enters the weekend as the top seed and overwhelming favorite to take home gold in the long.
He's currently US No. 1 and has been consistently jumping well all winter long before his major pop this past weekend. Though it's only a year old, Ezra Mellinger's state meet record of 24-11.5 is in jeopardy. Most importantly, though, Price-Whitehead will be looking for his first career state title.
Two others in this field have jumped over 23 feet. Not to be overshadowed by Price-Whitehead, those are impressive performances. Penn Charter's Akeel Blake leapt 23-5.5 at a TFCAofGP meet earlier this winter, a very solid leap for the senior. Norristown's Austin Montgomery went 23-2.5 at the TFCAofGP Last Chance Meet a few weeks ago. Montgomery has also has another jump in the 23-foot range from the Meet of Champs where he took second to Price-Whitehead. Both boys should be right in the mix for high finishes.
Seven others come in with jumps of at least 22 feet. LaSalle's Tommy Christie leads that charge. The PCL champion jumped 22-6.75 to win at Catholics a few weeks back. Hatboro Horsham's Kasey Savage, Downingtown East's John Salt, Athens Area's Benjamin Gambrell, Malvern Prep's Ryan Rosenberger, Peters Township's Jimmy Kartsonas, and Ephrata's Sam Knowles are among the others, who have been in the 22-foot range this winter.
Colson Martin of Spring Grove is the lone returning state medalist from last year's indoor state meet in this field. He grabbed eighth in 2019. Overall, it is a deep field. Price-Whitehead is the favorite, but just getting on the medal stand will likely mean some very strong jumps on Sunday.
Event 28 Boys Long Jump ============================================================ =================== 9 to the finals Meet Record: 24-11.50 2/23/2019 Ezra Mellinger, Lampeter Strasburg 21-09.00 SGQ State Guideline Name Year School ============================== ============================== =================== 1 Adams, Jake 10 Altoona Area 2 Allen, Camdyn 12 Susquehanna 3 Blake, Akeel 12 Penn Charter 4 Christie, Tommy 11 LaSalle College 5 Delbaugh, Billy 11 Shamokin Area 6 Gambrell IV, Benjamin 11 Athens Area 7 Kartsonas, Jimmy 12 Peters Twp 8 Knowles, Sam 12 Ephrata 9 Kretzing, Jackson 12 The Hill School 10 Martin, Colson 12 Spring Grove 11 McCarry, Christian 12 Wissahickon 12 Montgomery, Austin 12 Norristown 13 Price-Whitehead, Jaden 11 Upper Dublin 14 Rosenberger, Ryan 11 Malvern Prep 15 Salt, John 12 Dtown East 16 Savage, Kasey 11 Hatboro Horsham 17 Sciarro, Nathan 12 Riverside (7 18 Thomas, Gavin 12 Seneca Valley 19 Wolfe, Ben 12 Palmyra