Live Stream: PTFCA State Championship
Live coverage begins on March 2nd
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High Jump Preview
Girls:
Editor Prediction: Boiardi will clear a new height of 5-10 to win it.
Lexi Boiardi (Avon Grove) is one of the best high jumpers nationally this year, ranking third across the nation. Last indoor season, she was able to earn third place at indoor states. This was the only time she lost last season. In the outdoors, she went to state, placing eighth for her first state meet.
This past season, she has been on a teer, winning every meet besides her first one of the year. She has improved on her height every meet this year from 5-0 feet to now 5-9 feet. This shows that she has a strong chance to set another personal best on the way to winning her first state championship.
Destini Smith (Souderton Area) and Milena Sciullo (Grove City Area) could stand in Bioardi's way of gold.
Smith is one of the top jumpers in the nation, ranking in the top 25 in every event. She will be looking to what I will be calling the triple crown of jumps at this state meet, and the high jump I foresee has her toughest. Last season, she got fifth in this event at indoor and fourth in outdoor states. With this season being her best yet, she is going to need to clear another personal best better than her 5-8 as I see the meet needing 5-9 at least to win the meet if not 5-10 and above.
Sciullo, the reigning champion at the indoor state championship. She is looking to repeat that victory; however, last year, she won 5-5, and I don't believe that will be good enough to win it this year. She has been consistent throughout the season, which I think will play a huge factor into winning the meet as she has jumped 5-6 in three or her five competitions.
Podium Predictions: Niya Jeffers (Chester), Alexis Sherry (Laurel), Triumph Kilmartin (Altoona Area), Ella Sammel (Trinity 07), and Aoife Speer-Gibson (West Chester Rustin).
Note: There are seven athletes ranked for sixth in the state, all clearing marks of 5-4.
Boys:
Editor Prediction: Campbell for the win at 6-10 feet
Trip Campbell (North Penn) and Joachim Johnson (Episcopal Academy) are about to have a showdown of the weekend, both jumping 6-10 this season and returning state top-five athletes wanting the gold.
Campbell will a more consistent year is my favorite to win states. Last season, in indoor state, he got fourth, and then in outdoor, he got third. He then went on to the AAU Junior Olympic Games, earning fourth. This season, he has won every meet, jumping a lowest of 6-6 back in December, and since then, not jumping below 6-8.
Johnson's last indoor season was the runner-up at the indoor state championship and won the PAISAA championship. This season, he has been improving each meet, only jumping in three meets this season and two in February, where he cleared marks of 6-6 and then 6-10. With his 6-10 just happening, we could see him jump that mark again.
Xavier McGreal (Kennett) and Tieren Mead (Central Bucks East) are emerging as strong contenders for the bronze medal. My favorite to win among these two is McGreal. He jumped 6-7 at the beginning of February and cleared 6-6 just last weekend. Mead hasn't jumped over 6-4 since October this past year; however, he did jump 6-6.75, which leads me to believe that he could jump something impressive in states.
Podium Predictions: Nazar Pastukh (Council Rock South), Haneef Porter (JP McCaskey), Declan Gallagher (Owen J. Roberts), and Devin Perez (JP McCaskey).