Long Jump-
2019 State Champion: Dasani Edward (Sr., DuQuoin) 23-5.50
Key Returners: Edward, Lane Ross (Jr., Vienna), Julian Samuels (Sr., Kewanee), Ramsey Hunt (Sr., Shiloh), Kreeden Allen (Jr., Rushville-Industry), Caleb Frymire (Sr., Fairfield), Dylan Smith (Sr., Carrollton), Trevor Kirabo (Sr., Winnebago), Kaynen Bond (Jr., Kewanee-Wethersfield), Dorian Woods (Sr., Chicago Leo), Reagan Newell (Sr., Sesser-Valier), Preston Huston (Jr., Mercer County), Sam Roszak (Jr., North Shore Country Day), Kile Campbell (So., Maroa-Forsyth), David Arney (Jr., Riverdale)
Outlook: This will be Dasani Edwards of DuQuoin's year once again it looks like on paper as he is the only returning jumper of 23-feet. Edwards had a monster late part of the 2019 season, dropping a massive personal best by almost two feet in a single month. Most of last year Edwards struggled to find his footing as he consistently jumped high 20 footers, but that all changed after he jumped 22-10 at the DuQuoin Sectional, going 23-5.50 in prelims secured the Indians star jumper his first-ever state title.
There may only be two people capable of beating Edwards this year with one being Lane Ross. Ross had a monster sophomore season improving by over twelve inches. He jumped 22-9.75 at state to take second place. The only problem is it is very rare to watch him jump as he splits time with the baseball team. If he jumps more than the four meets he did last year, he might be unstoppable.
Ramsey Hunt is a potential grab this season, taking sixth place at state last year which was a disappointing performance, dropping from third the season before. Hunt went 22-0.75 as a sophomore, but with a larger event load as a junior his marks just weren't there. Could he bounce back this year? With the addition of Julian Samuels who is another returning all-stater, this event might be the best in the classification.