Boys Triple Jump Preview
The boys triple jump is one of the state meet's more wide open events entering the weekend, and this one should be a thriller, with a number of boys capable of taking the top spot.
The top seed is PA#1 Ty Friedenberger of Altoona Area. After four meets in the 43-foot range, the senior popped a big one at the State College Invitational #3 last week to move into the state lead. He jumped 45-6.5 for the win on the same runway he'll return to on Sunday, looking to claim a state title. Friedenberger will look to replicate that effort, and if he can, he'll be tough to beat.
North Penn's Jabrie Gaymon is the only other boy in PA with a season best over 45 feet. Gaymon jumped 45-4 at the TFCAofGP Last Chance Meet, which was -- at the time -- a state leader. At that Last Chance Meet, he had a terrific series that included two 44-foot jumps and two 45-foot jumps. He may need a similar day to take the win here. Pennridge's Jared Hess took the win over Gaymon at the TFCAofGP Meet of Champs last week. Hess has had four meets with best past 44-feet and has been a fairly consistent performer this year as he enters with a best of 44-7.25 from MOCs.
JP McCaskey's Troy Johnson -- the top seed in the long jump -- will be back in the triple later in the meet. He sits at PA#3, just ahead of Hess, with a best of 44-8. Johnson is a versatile jumper, and he'll be right in the mix for the title in the triple. Brendan Leneghan of Saint Joseph's Prep is another 44-footer in the field. He leapt 44-6 to win the PCL title a few weeks back, and another performance like that will put him right in the conversation, too.
West Chester Rustin's Dayshawn Jacobs, Muhlenberg's Gabriel Sample, Mifflin County's Dillon Wert, and Pennridge's Nick Rosica are the other 43-footers entered in this field. It's going to take a jumpers best day to win this title. Who's ready to bring it to PSU?
ENTRIES:
Event 30 Boys Triple Jump
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9 to the finals
Meet Record: 49-10.50 3/6/2010 Carlton Lavong, Methacton
Name Year School
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1 Adams, Branson 9 Altoona Area
2 Chedester, Samuel 11 Easton Area
3 Deemer, Matthew 12 Seneca Valle
4 Folmer, Ethan 12 Slippery Rock
5 Friedenberger, Ty 12 Altoona Area
6 Gaymon, Jabrie 12 North Penn
7 Hess, Jared 11 Pennridge
8 Jacobs, Dayshawn 12 W C Rustin
9 Johnson, Troy 12 J.P. McCaskey
10 Leneghan, Brendan 12 St Joseph Prep
11 Loviscky, Duncan 11 State College
12 Price, Jonathan 11 Seneca Valle
13 Rosica, Nick 11 Pennridge
14 Sample, Gabriel 12 Muhlenberg
15 Simmons, Khalon 11 Meadville Ar
16 Ventura, Nikolas 12 C B East
17 Walker, Justin 12 Reading
18 Weaver, Teagan 12 Lampeter Strras
19 Wert, Dillon 12 Mifflin County
20 White, Justin 12 Unionville