Expected the unexpected in the girls long jump.
With two 20-plus leapers in the field, along with 15 of the nation's top 50 athletes, perhaps anything could happen in the girls championship at New Balance Nationals Indoor this weekend inside the Armory.
Whether it's Alyssa Jones' proficiency in the air, or Gianna Locci's consistency on the board, or Avery Lewis' knack for executing on that one big lift-off, sometimes you just have to expect the unexpected.
This field is deeper than just three athletes, though. A total of nine athletes enter with marks over 19 feet. There are even two teammates who could potentially earn All-American nods -- both Locci and Kelly Moran hail from the same New York High School (Stillwater).
For more, visit coverage at our NBNI meet page. Previous links are below.
NBNI Pre-Meet Coverage:
Is A Record In The Girls Mile Possible?
Are We Headed Toward A Sub-21 In The 200m?
Top Girls Long Jump Entries
| name | school/city | state | nat. rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alyssa Jones | Miami Southridge | FL | 1 |
| Gianna Locci | Stillwater | NY | 2 |
| Avery Lewis | Friends' Central | PA | 5 |
| Alaysia Oakes | Heritage | 7 | |
| Mariam Azeez | Lincoln-Way East | IL | 9 |
| Kayla Watson | Prosper | TX | 9 |
| Tamia Washington | Thomas R. Proctor | NY | 11 |
| Lena Gooden | Osbourn Park | VA | 12 |
| Jada Foreman | Atlee | VA | 16 |
| Kelly Moran | Stillwater | NY | 17 |
| Megan Frazee | Westford Academy | MA | 23 |
| Jada Smith | West Palm Beach | FL | 24 |
| Fabiola Belibi | Regis Jesuit | CO | 28 |
| Sanaa Virgil | Elizabeth Seton | MD | 30 |
| Ija Mumford | Parkland Magnet | NC | 41 |