The jumping events are exciting heading into winter because they’re hard to predict. Unlike many of the state’s best distance runners that are coming off cross country, we haven’t seen most of these athletes since June. That period allows for a lot of improvement, and a lot of surprises. Let’s look at some of the top returners heading into this season.
High Jump
Based off last year, High Jump appears to be wide open. Efe Iyahen of Northfield Mt Hernon is the top returner with a best of 6-5.5 from indoors, and an outdoor PR of 6-9. Northfield Mt Hernon competes in the NEPSTA, so we won’t see him at the Meet of Champs, but keep an eye out for him at Invites throughout New England.
From schools that compete in the MIAA, there are four jumpers that cleared 6-4: Kaleb Lopez of Greater Lowell Tech, Jackson Eisl of Wachusett, Carlos Quintana of Central Catholic. Brendan McCullen of Middlesex High School, also of NEPSTA, cleared 6-4 as well. McCullen and Quintana both cleared 6-6 outdoors, while Eisl focused on multiple events in the outdoor season.
Watch out for Lowell’s Paris Mbeca. He jumped 6-4 outdoors and is the number two returner from the outdoor Meet of Champs. He could pull of an upset this season.
What will it take to win this year? While the state record of 7-3, set by Greg Gonzalez from Falmouth in 1981 may be safe, all the top returners could reach new heights, literally, this season. Last year’s champ, Derek Shimer of Shrewsbury, had a PR of 6’11”, but only needed to jump 6’8” at the Meet of Champs. All the top returners are more than capable of a jump in that range.
Long Jump
While we may know him better for the triple jump, Catholic Memorial’s Amar Skeete is the top returner for the Long Jump from Indoors, with a leap of 22-10. Skeete was fourth at the Meet of Champs and sixth at New England’s last year.
However, he is not the top returning jumper overall. That honor belongs to JaMauri Belmer of Wakefield. While he only jumped 21-2 indoors, he launched a massive 23-6.75 outdoors. It’s worth nothing that was his best jump last season by over a foot. If he can get more consistent, he’ll be a force to be reckoned with this season.
There’s three more athletes that cleared 22 feet last season: Simon Tandeih, 22-7, of Lexington, Ethan Thevenin, 22-4, of Lowell, and Jelani Semper, 22-2.75, of Catholic Memorial.
Thevenin Jumped 23 feet outdoors as well. It’s worth noting that Catholic Memorial had another outstanding jumper outdoors, with Jameson Booker jumping 23-0.25. While he hasn’t done indoor track, perhaps the Knights can convince him to come out this season? Maybe chase a Long Jump Relay title?
What will it take to win this year? Last season, Even Bedard of Peabody jumped 23-1.75 to win at the Meet of Champs. We expect someone to clear that this season. The state record stands at 24-3.75, from Andrew Bolze of Hingham in 2014. While that is probably safe, a jump closer to 24 feet this season is certainly possible.
