Continuing on with our preview in this post we will discuss the jumpers. What a great past few years we have seen so many great programs lay the claim to jumps "U". From the Florida Gators, LSU Tigers, Arkansas Razorbacks, Texas A&M Aggies and the Florida State Seminoles. Of course there have been champions from other schools but those five programs have really produced. With Georgia losing their jumps coach in Petros Kyprianou they are likely to take a step back. However this does highlight the incredible performances and talent we have seen from the jumpers in recent years. This season should be no different.
JUMPS
Women
Last indoor season were treated to a great pair of athletes
in Tyra Gittens of Texas A&M and Anna Hall of Georgia. They not only competed
head-to-head in the pentathlon but also in the high jump. Tyra Gittens turned
out to be the big winner. She returns along with Hall who will be representing
Florida now and defending Outdoor champion Rachel Glenn of South Carolina. Both
Hall and Gittens have the Pentathlon to contest with, while the High Jump will
be Glenn’s only event.
The Pole Vault will crown a new champion. The top returnee
is Sydney Horn of High Point. She was a freshman win she finished third last
season with a mark of 14 feet 5 ½ inches. A strong challenger will likely be
Nastassja Campbell of Arkansas. The Razorbacks have produced multiple national
champions and all-Americans of the past several years in the Pole Vault,
Campbell looks to continue that trend.
Anna Hall is not the only Georgia athlete that transferred
to Florida. Top long jump returnee from last indoor season Jasmine Moore. Now a
Florida Gator Moore will not only be favored in the long jump but in the triple
jump as well. Her teammate Claire Bryant should be her top challenger in the
long jump. In the triple jump it will be Ruta Lasmane of Florida State. Moore was
highly decorated coming out of high school, now a junior Moore will finally look
to pull of the jumping double something that has happened multiple times at Florida.
Men
The top returning high jumper is Vernon Turner of Oklahoma. The
Big 12 Champion of 2018 has long since proven that he can go toe to toe with
the best jumpers. With JuVaughn Harrison of LSU exhausting his eligibility Turner
is the obvious returning favorite. His challenger for the title should be Mayson
Conner of Nebraska.
A new champion will be crowned in the men’s pole vault. KC
Lightfoot of Baylor has given up his eligibility to turn pro. The top returnee
from last indoor season is Zac McWhorter of BYU. However, the outdoor champion
was Branson Ellis of Stephen F. Austin. Stephen F. Austin has produced several
champions in All-Americans recently and Ellis is the latest stud. Having
already garnered a national title outdoors look for Ellis to solidify his
position as the top vaulter.
In the long jump Carey McLeod of Tennessee is the top
returner. Last year we were treated to amazing long jump competition that saw
three athletes surpass 27 feet indoors. Like in the High Jump the defending
champion Harrison has exhausted eligibility. McLeod will be the only athlete in
the country with ability to go over 27 feet. His challenger will be Ryan Brown
of Arkansas and potentially Matthew Boling of Georgia.
The triple jump will return a champion in Emmanuel Ihemeje
of Oregon. He caught everyone by surprise last indoor season with his victory.
All eyes were McLeod claiming the title since he was number one heading into
the championship. Ihemeje proved that his indoor title was no fluke when he came
back outdoors to win the title. McLeod will remain a top contender by last
season was Ihemeje’s freshman campaign. With a year of training and experience
under his belt, expect for him to take things even further.
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