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Outdoor T&F Preview: Girls’ Jumping Events
Long Jump
Pilgrim’s Dasani Stewart and Smithfield’s Lauren Boyd lead a talented group of leapers this spring. Stewart, a senior, was our state indoor champion where she cleared an all-time best of 18 feet, 5.75 inches. Boyd, who was unable to compete at the states this past winter due to an illness, is our reigning outdoor titlist. She soared to a winning distance and PR of 18-1 at last year’s meet and had an indoor best of 18-0.25 from her victory at the East Coast Invitational back in January. Both athletes have demonstrated consistency in this event, Stewart twice went further than 18 feet and had a low of 17-1. Boyd, a senior, averaged in the mid 17-foot range for most of the winter and had a low of 17-2. Cranston West’s Quiana Pezza showed solid improvement during the indoor season, highlighted by a second-place finish at the states where she had an all-time best of 18-1.5. Other top athletes we expect to be fighting for those podium spots are Exeter/West Greenwich’s Nini Olawuyi (17-8.5), Barrington’s Sophia Ford (17-6.75), West Warwick’s Lisa Raye (17-3), Mount Hope’s Lola Silva (17-3) and Cumberland’s Brianna Landry (17-0.75).
High Jump
The favorite here is Portsmouth’s Morgan Casey, the two-time defending outdoor champion and individual winner at the indoor states this past winter. The two-sport athlete, who is a varsity member of the school’s basketball team during the winter months, competing in just four meets this season and had a best of 5 -4 from the State Meet. She owns an all-time best of 5-8, which she did twice last year, clearing the height at the states and the New Balance Nationals. She’s also the returning New England titlist, earning gold with a near best of 5-7. South Kingstown’s Sierra Thompson would appear to pose the biggest threat to Casey. She also cleared 5-4 during the indoor campaign and always shows up with her ‘A’ game come championship time. Like Boyd, an illness prevented her from competing at the State Meet in mid February. There’s a host of jumpers in that low five-foot range. Among them are North Kingstown’s Faith .Veasley, Middletown’s Katelin Cruikshank (5-2), the Patriots’ Stewart (5-1), Exeter/West Greenwich’s Nini Olawuyi (5-0) and Rogers’ Amarie Williams (5-0).
Triple Jump
Four of our top six finishers from last year’s State Meet will be back this spring. That quartet includes our second through fifth-place finishers – Stewart (second, 36-0.75), Boyd (third, 34.4.5), Landry (fourth, 34-10) and Pezza (fifth, 34-3.25). Stewart is our No. 1 returnee with a best of 37-2 from the Mount Pleasant Invitational. Boyd, Landry, and Pezza all had their best from the State Meet. Look for the potential of the Wizards’ Raye competing in this event. As she proved this past indoor season with victories in the 55m hurdles, 300m and long jump, she has the speed, versatility and, most importantly, the confidence to be a factor in this event.
Pole Vault
Take your pick in this one. La Salle’s Morgan Correia, the state silver-medalist, is the top returnee. She cleared a best of 10-6 to take second to eventual state champion Allyson Humphries at the Class A Championships. North Kingstown’s Oliva Priest and La Salle’s Meera Menon both went 10-feet even last spring. There’s also Coventry’s Olivia Barry, who had her best of 9-0 at the states, an effort that placed her sixth overall.
