From a strictly indoor field perspective, this should be an interesting campaign with seven returners back and two more over 18 feet added to the coffers, making this a fun event to watch.
Dominique Johnson (Sr., Huntley): Her goal for the indoor season is to jump over 20 feet. This is awesome coming from someone labeled a triple jumper despite leaping a personal best 19'6." Could it be that she does not want to be known as a one-dimensional jumper? Over the past three seasons, it appeared as though the holdback is her technical approach to the event. Johnson has ample training behind her, which will show up this winter. Johnson won five of six competitions last year.
Kyla Motley (Sr., Palos Heights Shepard): Underrated but talented jumper who took runner-up honors at the Illinois Top Times meet a year ago with a searing 19'0.25" performance. She was one of only three girls in the state who landed in the 19-foot club last year.
Noelle Hunt(Sr., Champaign Centennial): A consistent high 17-footer last year who wasn't afraid to mix it up with the best. She was a Top Times medalist last year and just missed all-state honors last spring.
Olivia Dalson(Jr., Naperville Neuqua Valley): The Wildcats had a great jumping corps last year, maybe the best in the state, with Dalson eventually earning 3A state runner-up honors.
Jordan Hamb(Jr., Chicago South Shore International Prep): Though not a serious force in this event last year, mainly because she tapped out in the number of events she could compete in. Hamb leaped an IL#1 wind-legal and US top 40 19'4" last summer at the USATF Jr Olympics (15-16 division).
Symone Holman(Jr., Joliet Catholic Academy): Won the Top Times 2A title last year while competing essentially on one leg (figurately speaking). Holman had been dealing with a hamstring injury for most of 2024 that hindered her also in the sprinting categories. She finished the season with a silver medal at the IHSA state championship.
From a strictly indoor field perspective, this should be an interesting campaign with seven returners back and two more over 18 feet added to the coffers, making this a fun event to watch.
An exciting crop of returning long jumpers are ready to show and prove for the 2025 indoor field season (Mike Baxter photo)