They’re gonna need a bigger pit.
The Long Jump Pit took center stage at Wednesday’s Middlesex League Championship. Wakefield’s Jamauri Belmer soared to a gargantuan PR of 24’11”. He almost skipped 24 feet all together and went to straight to 25. His mark ties the current state record set by Alex Niemiec of Chicopee Comprehensive. Belmer wasn’t alone though. Lexington’s All-American Simon Tandeih also jumped to a massive PB of 24’9.5”. It’s not often you jump over 24 feet and finish second. Along with Catholic Memorial’s Amar Skeete, Massachusetts now has three boys over 24 feet this year. Belmer’s jump is tied for 9th in the county while Tandeih’s is 14th.
On the girl’s side, Lexington’s Aubrey Deardorf jumped 19’8” for the win and State #3 this season. She was one inch shy of her best from New Balance Nationals last season where she finished fifth overall. She’ll have her work cut out for her, as Lavender Kozaka of Oliver Ames has cleared 20 feet his season, and Westford Academy’s Kaitlyn Boakye-Yiadom has jumped 19’10.5”
Lexington’s star thrower Ainsley Cuthbertson broke the meet record in the discus with a throw of 126’2”. She also won the shot put to help Lexington secure the team title. Deardorf was a triple winner, as she won the triple jump and the 100m. Up next for the Lexington Girls will be the Division 1 Championship. They had a dominant showing indoors. While they’ll look for their stars to shine, they’ll also lean on their unparalleled depth in the distance events. They went 1-5 in the Mile on Wednesday.
The Lexington Boys had a dominant showing as well, scoring 211 points for the win, ahead of Arlington with 73. Indoors they were third at the Division 1 Championships. They’ll battle for the win next week at Westfield State University. Like the girls, they’re strong top to bottom in all events.
