Throwing, Jumping Events
The long jump could be an event dominated by Massachusetts. Leading the group is recent state champion Natalie Marshall of Newton North and Leeanne Kibee of Milton. Marshall won the All State Meet this past weekend with a 17-9.25 effort and had an indoor best of 18-2.5 to win the the Division 1 meet a week earlier. Kibee leaped an indoor PR of 18-2.5 to capture the Division 1 state crown a few weeks ago. She had an off-day at the All State Meet with a 16-0 best, so she'll have motivation on her side. There's also Brooklyn Manna (17-9) of Woburn, Jada Johnson (17-7.5) of Sharon and Reading's Megan Lawlor (17-7.25), the 2-3-4 finishers at the All State Meet, that have potential for some top placements. Recent CT State Open winner Jahleah Harris of Bloomfield could certainly win it all. She was the runner-up at last year's meet where she had her all-time best of 18-3. Her season best this winter came at the Class S Championship, where she copped her second straight title with a distance of 17-10.5.
Cameron Garabian of Seekonk (MA) is the No. 1 seed in the shot put. She tossed a PR of 44-0.5 win her second consecutive Division 5 title and won the All State Meet with an equally impressive toss of 43-8.25. MA rivals Shannon Parks of Reading (42-6.25) and Taina Bazie of Dennis Yarmouth (40-11.25). Watch out for Amanda Howe of Southington (CT). She has been a model of consistently this season with more than a half dozen throws over 40 feet. She won the Yale Track Classic, East Coast Invitational, the State Open and recently the Eastern States Championships. Her best of 42-3.75 was achieved on Jan. 27 with her win at the CCC Championship.
Defending titlist Zoe Dainton of Hingham (MA) is the No. 1 seed in the long jump. Dainton won the recent All-State Meet with a PR of 5-9. She matched her previous best of 5-8 by taking the Coaches Invitational on Jan. 28. Dainton's top competition appears to be Nyagoa Bayak of Westbrook (ME). Bayak also cleared 5-9 this season, attaining her PR with her victory at the Dartmouth Relays. She won her Class A indoor title at 5-8, and was the New England Champion as a freshman. Five other athletes in the field have done 5-6 this season - Connecticut's Allyson Lewis of Norwich, Monique Anderson of Bloomfield and Patricia Mroczkowski of Berlin and Massachusetts' Sara James of Wachusett and Anoush Karafian of Belmont.