The Huntley duo sisters Dominique & Alex Johnson are aiming to be the best-ever long jump tandem
All long jump conversations should begin with two-time defending 3A state champion Alex Johnson (Sr) of Huntley. Johnson, an Arizona State University signee, and one of the nation's top returners has dominated the event dating back to her freshman indoor season before the pandemic shut us down. She has achieved many checkpoints in her jumping career, with the exception of the magical twenty-foot barrier. There has been only one indoor performance of twenty feet in Illinois history (Geneseo's Erika Furbeck- 2018) and Johnson could be another one of them. An improved sprinter, there is no doubt that she will be able to enter the prestigious club.
Before Rylee Lydon (Sr., Crystal Lake Prairie Ridge) heads off to Texas A&M University next fall she will look to shake up how things will unfold throughout the season. The reigning national champion in the heptathlon of course excels in multiple events, but she cleared 18'6.5" and should be much better. An offseason of strength and speed gains will assist in her ride within this event.
Don't be fooled by the 18'4.75" Dominique Johnson leaped last season. The younger sister of superstar Alex Johnson was just a freshman. The potential to become more than a leaper is there and her foes will be put on notice right away.
Na'Kyrah Cooks (Sr., Kankakee) does have a nineteen-foot jump on her resume from the outdoor season, she also has a state champion title as well. Cooks figured some things out down the stretch last season in this event. Look for her to continue her rise.
Another jumper to watch out for is the underrated Zawadi Brown (Jr., Naperville Neuqua Valley). A talented athlete who is fast on the track in the open sprints and off of it in Lacrosse. This year will be crucial in terms of dedicating more time to the sand pit. Brown has consistently been marked over 18 feet but she has the talent to make 19 feet a regular occurrence.
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Honorable Mention: Annie Wirth (Sr., Geneseo), Abbie Venhaus (Sr., Columbia), Gelena Holder-Brown (So., Chicago Heights Bloom Township), Laurel Munson (Sr., Eureka), Anna Bruno (Sr., Seneca), Harriet Ghapson (Jr., Plainfield North), Jaliyah Shepherd (Sr., Chicago Kenwood), Chali Baumann (Sr., Schaumburg), Bridget Kosky (Sr., Batavia)