It’s Preview Time!
With the outdoor track & field season licking off, it’s time to spotlight the top athletes who could dominate this spring. We’ve based our projections on performances from the 2025 outdoor season, results from this past winter campaign, and some inside knowldege.
Here we feature the boys’ jumping events, which include the long jump, triple jump, high jump and pole vault.
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LONG JUMP
This past indoor season was a strong one for the long jump. By season’s end, five athletes had surpassed 23 feet, while another 15 exceeded the 22-foot mark.
The top athlete – and early-season favorite – is the only jumper in the field to eclipse 24 feet: Amar Skeete of Catholic Memorial High School. Skeete, the indoor titlist at the Meet of Champions this past February, was a model of consistency throughout the winter. Leading up to the MOC, he cleared 23 feet in six of seven meets, including a personal best of 24-3 at the Coaches Invitational.
The state record in this event is 24-11, set by Alex Niemiec of Chicopee Comprehensive during his victory at the 2013 New England Championships. That mark could very well be a target for the Knights’ junior this spring.
However, given the depth of talent in the event, Skeete is far from a lock to claim the championship. He will face stiff competition from several athletes, including his own teammates, Jelani Semper and Jameson Booker, who recorded personal bests of 23-7.5 and 23-0.5, respectively, during the indoor season. Semper and Booker are also the top returnees from last year’s senior-heavy podium, where they finished sixth and seventh.
Other athletes who could certainly make an impact in the sand pit include Simon Tandeih of Lexington High School (23-1.75), JaMauri Belmer of Wakefield Memorial High School (22-11.25), Macintyre Slowey of Bishop Feehan High School (22-7.25), and Jeremiah Mateo Mora of Central Catholic High School (22-5.25), just to name a few.
As history has shown, one big jump is all it takes to win gold at the Meet of Champions. With so many athletes in the 22- to 23-foot range, this event has the potential to be one of the most exciting competitions to watch come June.
TRIPLE JUMP
We’ve already highlighted Amar Skeete as a top-tier long jumper.
It may not even be his best event. The Catholic Memorial High School standout truly excels in the triple jump. It’s an event where Skeete showed tremendous promise as a freshman, coming within a half inch of 45 feet. During the 2025 season, he elevated his performance to another level, completing the ultimate trifecta by capturing titles at the Division 2 Championships, the Meet of Champions, and the New England Championships. He capped off his remarkable season by earning All-American honors at the New Balance Nationals Indoor, where he set a personal best and state record of 50-5, an effort that placed him third overall.
In his limited appearances in the triple jump this past winter, Skeete remained in top form, recording marks between 48-10 and 49-11.75, the latter earning him a seventh-place finish at last month’s New Balance Nationals.
So who are the top challengers in this event?
From last year’s Meet of Champions, three other podium finishers return, led by runner-up Oscar Torres of Weston, who posted a season best of 47-7 at New Balance Nationals. Also back are Nick Kelter of Lynnfield High School (fifth) and Tobiah Stessman of Sharon High School (eighth).
Kelter (PR 46-2) is part of a strong group of returners who have already surpassed 46 feet, including Ethan Trevenin of Lowell (46-7) and Jeremiah Kinsumba of Lexington (46-5.25).
The odds are in Skeete’s favor to replicate his outstanding performance from last year. If he does – as many expect -the real battle for the podium will come from the talented field of returners we’ve highlighted, promising an exciting and unpredictable competition.
HIGH JUMP
This past indoor season, the high jump proved to be the most competitive event of the Meet of Champions with the top seven finishers all clearing 6-4. The last one standing was Lowell’s Parris Mbeca, who won the title based on fewer misses.
Expect the potential for similar results with the competition switching to the outdoor surface.
Central Catholic’s Carlos Quintana has to be considered among the favorites. He finished the indoor season with the top leap in the state, clearing 6-9 to place second at the New England Championships. Braintree’s Brandan McGeough and Mbecca each leaped 6-7 Four more exceeded 6-6. That foursome included St. John’s Prep’s Tyson Stroope, Joseph Case’s Ben Deady, Wakefield’s JaMaun Belmer and Worcester Tech’s Gershom Opoku. Watch out for Wahconah Regional’s Copper Calvert. The WR senior does not compete during the indoor season. Last year, e was second at the Meet of Champions, matching his best with a clearance of 6-4.
POLE VAULT
At the Meet of Champions, the competition in this event is expected to be tight. Returning this season are four of the top eight finishers from last year’s MOC: Mitchell Woo of Belmont (third), Aidan Raney of Lexington (fourth), Lucas Scully-Power of Weston (tied fifth), and Ryan McCormack of Wayland (tied fifth).
Raney and Woo both recorded personal bests of 13-6 at last year’s season-ending meet, while Scully-Power and McCormack each matched their best of 12-6 at the same meet. With this experienced group returning, the event should be one of the closest and most exciting competitions at the MOC.
