From start to finish, expect each event to create some excitement at Saturday’s MIAA Meet of Champions. With the state’s best taking center stage, would you expect anything different? Throughout the week, we’ll preview all the individual events. Here we feature the girls’ throwing and jumping events, which includes the shot, the weight throw, the long jump and the high jump.
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SHOT
Look for a fierce competition inside the circle in this event.
The top three seeds have all surpassed 40 feet this season, and the No. 4 seed is less than six inches from joining them.
The top seed is Lexington’s Ainsley Cuthbertson. The Minutemen senior has a PR of 42-8.75, a mark she delivered at the Division 1 State Relays. She’s been unbeaten and remarkably consistent all season, tossing 39 feet or better in eight meets.
Auburn’s Isabel Zukowski is the No. 2 seed with a best of 41-4. The third seed is Melrose’s Emeline Boyer at 40-0.75.
Zukowski carries momentum into Saturday’s meet with a trio of 40-foot throws, including her recent victory at the Div. 1 Championships where she went 40 feet even.
Boyer has manufactured a strong season, and no doubt will have redemption on her mind. At this meet last February, she was 22nd overall at 30-8, a mark nearly six feet below her previous best at the time. Boyer captured the Div. 3 title last Thursday with her current PR. Her previous best of 38-9.25, earned her runner-up honors at last spring’s Meet of Champions.
Don’t ignore West Springfield’s Nahla Williams. She owns a season best of 39-7 from her win at the PVIAC Pioneer League Championships on Feb. 1.
WEIGHT THROW
Cuthbertson is the overwhelming favorite in this event. She owns the No. 1 throw in the country right now with an all-time best of 57-10.75 from a league meet back on Feb. 2. The Lexington senior has gone no less than 53-3.5, which she did the first meet of the season. She has exceeded 55 feet six times this winter. The next closest seed to Cuthbertson is nine feet behind with New Bedford’s Nialonis Smith occupying the No. 2 spot. Hopkinton’s Kaelyn Faber is at No. 3 with a best of 44-5.5.
LONG JUMP
So far this season, only one athlete has surpassed 19 feet — Masconomet’s Mara Siewko.
Back in mid-January, Siewko soared 19-2 during a Northeast Conference meet to take over the state lead, something she hasn’t relinquished since then. Since that performance, the Masconomet junior has produced a handful of 18-foot jumps, most recently winning the Div. 3 Championships last Thursday with a leap of 18-5.5.
Siewko will be tested this weekend in a field that features five others seeded beyond 18 feet – Acton-Boxborough’s Danette Nabbosa (18-4.25), Newton North’s Blake McNeal (18-3), defending champion Emmaneulla Edozien of Natick (18-1.75), Wellesley Academy freshman Kaitlyn Boakye-Yiadom (18-1.5), and Oliver Ames’ Lavender Kozaka (18-1.25).
From this group, two others own personal bests beyond 19 feet. Edozien accomplished the feat twice last winter, leaping an all-time best of 19-5.75 at the Bay State Conference Championships and 19-0 to place third at the Div. 1 meet. As a sophomore in 2024, Kozaka was fourth at the Meet of Champions with a PR of 19-2.25. McNeal nearly reached 19 feet at the New Englands last winter, placing fourth with a PR of 18-11.25. Edozien and McNeal went 1-2 in this event in 2025, while McNeal was fourth.
One big jump is all it takes in this event. By the looks of this field, that could be the difference on Saturday, where several athletes have the potential to take home the title. Things could get interesting in the sand pit.
HIGH JUMP
At last year’s meet, seniors dominated the podium, sweeping the top five spots. Finishing sixth that day was one of our favorites entering this weekend – No. 1 seed S’staarr Parham of Attleboro.
Parham comes in with a PR and school record of 5 feet, 6.25 inches, a mark she cleared to win a Hockomock League meet on Jan. 22. A week earlier, the Coaches Invitational and Hockomock League champion also cleared 5-6. It’s unclear why Parham did not compete at the Div. 1 meet this past Sunday, but if she’s healthy, she’s among the top contenders to win Saturday.
Milton’s Ella Turner is the No. 2 seed with a best of 5-6, achieved at a pair of Bay State Conference meets this winter. The recent Div. 3 champion has been consistent, clearing 5-4 or higher in four other meets. She was fifth in this event during the outdoor season.
Five other athletes are tied for the third seed at 5-4. This group includes Carver’s Emma Wall, Lincoln-Sudbury’s Aluel Mayen, Nauset’s Violet Roche, Wachusett sophomore McKenna Kadis and Westford Academy freshman Madeleine O’Lalor.
Like the long jump, this event could see several athletes still in contention late in the competition.
