Long Jump, Triple Jump ace Ja'mari Ward will be ready to break a few records at PW (Colin Boyle photo)
Field Events-
The events: long jump, triple jump, pole vault, shot put, high jump
The nation's #1 jumper Ja'mari Ward is back and ready to take his crowns back. Ward has been held mostly in check by his coach who has placed in running events. Still even in minimal competitions Ward has skied out to 24-11 in the long jump which rates #4 in the country. Ward will be motivated by several factors if the competition itself can't challenge him. The long standing meet record of 23-11.25 by Proviso West Head Coach Johnny Nolan-Jenkins has stood since 1988. Ward has surpassed that mark over a dozen times during his amazing high school career. The second factor is senior Grant Holloway of Grassfield, Virginia. Holloway is more than a foot better than his nearest competition leaping 25-11.5. It will be interesting to see if Ward can approach the 25-feet barrier.
IL's #3-6 will be featured in the long jump with Ben Jung (Sr., Downers Grove South), Michael Papper (Sr., Glenbrook South), Ja Shaun Steward (Sr., Proviso West), and Anthony McRoberts (Sr., Cahokia) ready to leap over 22-feet. In all there are six jumpers ranked in the Illinois top 10 entered into the competition!
The triple jump will be just as fierce. As it stands presently the top four leap froggers in the state are stated to compete. Once again Ward will lead the way. The defending New Balance Indoor National champion ranks #5 in the USA with a mark of 48-10.5. Ward could grab the national lead and break his own meet record 50-5 in his first attempt. If Ward hits his mark on the first attempt he may be done for the competition. For the first and perhaps only time on Illinois soil will there be a field this deep. Defending 3A state champion Chris Walker (Sr., West Aurora) is set to kick off his 2016 campaign. He is entered at 47-10 which is a fair mark for a kid whose best is 48-9.5. McRoberts, Luther Newburn (Sr., Hillcrest), Kareem Muhammad (Sr., Hinsdale Central), and Shunn Grace (Jr., Cahokia) are all ranked in the top 10 in the state. Steward has jumped 47-2 this season. He will better that mark if he competes on Saturday.
On the surface the high jump seems like a mystery. The emergence of Jordan Boyd (Sr., Chicago Brother Rice) will make this event a must see. He jumped 6-10 in an un-scored meet at Evanston several weeks ago. His mark would be #4 in the country. McRoberts in his third field event is the official leader jumping 6-9.50 good for US #10.
Dylan Scheirich (Sr., Lake Park) should have an opportunity to throw the shot put over 60-feet. He is #2 in Illinois at 58-1.
IL #4 pole vaulter Luke Nelson (Sr., Oak Park-River Forest) will lead the charge with a season best 14-6.