Newest talented, young TJers prepare for start of 2013-14 Project Triple Jump Camp

by Steve Underwood

If the quality and prestige of an event can be measured by the reaction of those chosen, then perhaps Arielle Mack’s story says it all – when it comes to Project Triple Jump Camp.  Let’s just say her reaction (and her mom’s) to the invitation (see details below) might have required the acquisition of earplugs by other family members or any neighbors within close range.

It’s not just that the National Scholastic Athletics Foundation's (NSAF) Project has become a go-to destination for aspiring hop-skip-and-jumpers, it’s also that in 2013-14 there will be fall/winter domestic clinics for the first time to go with the spring trip to the Bahamas.  They will be led by Texas coach and new Project Triple Jump Coordinator Macka Jones – renowned for success with athletes in the El Paso area and now in the Dallas area.  The first clinic is November 21-24 in the Dallas area, the second is tentatively set for Dec. 27-30 (likely Texas or Florida).  Renowned Bahamian Coach Peter Pratt, heading up the clinic there, will also be here with Coach Macka in November.

Mack, just a freshman at El Paso’s Burges HS, is one of five newcomers recently invited to the program this fall, along with:

  • North Florida Christian (Tallahassee) senior Darrielle McQueen (previously named)
  • Mountlake Terrace HS (Wash.) sophomore Chinne Okoronkwo
  • Cahokia (Ill.) sophomore Ja’Mari Ward
  • and Mission Oaks (Tulare, Calif.) sophomore Nashedah Mumin

McQueen is an established senior star, with several major wins last year, but the others all have 3-4 years of prep jumping (and potential involvement in the Project) ahead of them.  Okoronkwo, Ward and Mumin are three of the very best, nationally, from the Class of 2016.

“I can tell you now that I am very excited for the future of triple jump in the next few years,” said Coach Macka.  “The young talent that is in this program is tremendous.  We have three young ladies and one young man (the newest four) that could possibly shake up the event at the international level for years to come.  I am really looking forward to working with all eight of the athletes. This year is going to be an exciting one to watch.”

The above quintet joins seniors Keturah Orji (New Jersey) and KeAndre Bates (Texas), and junior Felicienne Axel (also Texas), the returning veterans.  Orji and Bates were both World Youth finalists last year, with Orji medaling in both the TJ and LJ. 

Read more about the returnees, Coach Macka, Coach Pratt and the project HERE.

Read all about the five newest campers below:

 

Darrielle McQueen

North Florida Christian (Tallahassee), Class of 2014
PR: 40-11 (US#10 for 2013, #4 returnee),
Notes:  Scored her PR when she won the USATF JOs (17-18) ... her previous best of 40-9.5 came in winning the Caribbean Scholastic Invite ... another major post-season win came at the Golden South Classic (2nd in LJ) ... swept both horizontals in Fla. 1A state, Florida Relays and FSU Relays ... she has four straight 1A TJ titles (started with 8th grade) ... ranked US#17 for the LJ with 19-7, and is the #10 returnee.

More on Darrielle

 

Chinne Okoronkwo

Mountlake Terrace HS (Wash.), Class of 2016
PR:  39-5.5i (US#1 frosh), 38-10.5 (US#2 frosh), 40-0nwi (US#1 all-cond.)
Notes: Big PR at Simplot for 2nd was by far top national frosh mark of indoor season ... was the only frosh to reach 40 feet outdoors nationally in any conditions at her 3A WESCO league champs ... had 7 meets outdoors over 39 feet ... legal PR came with a 2nd at USATF JOs, 15-16 division ... has impressive pole vault chops, too, with 12-0 vaults at her 3A district (1st) and state (2nd) meets ... actually went higher in her 2012 USATF regional meet, before her frosh year, at 12-2.

Coach Mack:  “Chinne is a versatile athlete. She is not just a 40-foot triple jumper, but also a 12-foot pole vaulter!  She could have gone to the World Youth Trials in both events!  Her athleticism is what stood out and made her a good candidate for the program.”

Comments from Chinne:

How she found out about the project:  “I found out about it when I received an email from my high school coach and my club coach, advising me to fill out an application for this project.”

Her reaction to be chosen:  “When I found out I had been selected to be in Project Triple Jump, I literally jumped with joy!  I was so excited for the great opportunity and to be working with so many talented coaches and athletes.”

Her desired areas of improvement and goals with the Project:  “During this project, I hope I will be able to find a training program that works well for me and helps me improve upon not only my triple jumping technique, but my all-around athleticism.  I would like to be able to get the most out of my second phase that I can and be able to make a better transition into my last phase.  If I could learn how to properly get my feet out in front of me and land correctly, I think it would help my marks tremendously.”

How she feels about getting to travel to and train in The Bahamas next year:  “My excitement for going to The Bahamas next summer is beyond words.  I have always wondered what it would be like to travel the world for track and field, and now I am getting my chance earlier than I ever would have expected!”

How she discovered and became interested in the triple jump:  “When I first started track, I went to a meet put on by the Flying AJ’s Track Club.  When I was there, I tried all kinds of events.  I was at the long jump when a coach I had never met before came up to me and asked if I wanted to try the triple jump.
“So he taught me right there on the field and that was when I fell in love with triple jump.  I think triple jump has kept me interested because it is a very complex event.  There is an endless amount of technique that you can put into it.  I also like the fact that triple jump is very forgiving; if you mess up on the first or second phase, you can compensate for it by making the last phase the best.”

On her passion and talents for diverse events:  “My main three events are triple jump, long jump, and pole vault.  Occasionally, I will do a running event to balance out all the jumping.  I like to use long jump as a compliment to triple jump, because the better my long jump gets, the better my third phase for triple jump will become.  I think it is nice that the two work together so well.
“Pole vault is the event I do that is very different from what most triple jumpers and long jumpers do.  As a former gymnast, I love flying through the air and pole vault is a great way for me to do that.  My favorite event is definitely triple jump, though!”

 

Arielle Mack

Burges HS (El Paso, Texas), Class of 2017
PR:  34-5.75
Notes:  Very new to the triple jump, but lots of potential and athleticism ... just picked up the event this spring as an 8th-graders and qualified for USATF JO nationals (2nd) with her PR 34-5.75 ... took 6th then at nationals with 34-3.75 ... a starter on her school’s varsity volleyball team as a frosh.

Coach Mack: “Arielle is the baby of the group; however, at 6'0", she is definitely not the shortest.  Arielle's strength is also in her athleticism.  Despite being a freshman this year at Burges, she is already a starter on the volleyball team.  She finished 6th this year in the USATF Junior Olympics despite only learning to triple jump five weeks prior.  I am very curious what four years in the program will do for her.”

Comments from Arielle:

How she found out about the project:  “I found out about the triple jump project from CoachJones. He was sharing his experiences of when he went to the Bahamas and brought it to my attention that I should fill out an application. The rest is history.”

Her reaction to be chosen:  “Honestly, when I got the e-mail, it appeared to say ‘Thanks for entering an application, but this year you were not chosen,’ so I was preparing for bad news.  But when I opened the e-mail and the first word was ‘Congratulations,’ I screamed at the top of my lungs.  My mom thought something had happened, so she started yelling at me.  I ran downstairs and told her I got accepted, and then we both screamed at the top of our lungs!”

Her desired areas of improvement and goals with the Project:  “I want improve my technique within this event, overall, but one specific example I really want to improve at is my landing into the pit.”

How she feels about getting to travel to and train in The Bahamas next year:  “I am very excited about going to the Bahamas, because I have never been out of the country, besides Mexico.  I don’t really count Mexico, because since I live in El Paso, I can drive right into Mexico.  I am also very nervous because this will be the first time I have ever traveled out of my city without my family, which will be a very new experience (which I really need to get used to).”

How she discovered and became interested in the triple jump:  “Honestly, I really had no interest in the triple jump before I started track and field with an actual team.  Then my coach told me I should try it, just to try it.  That is when I actually finally learned about the triple jump and how it was supposed to look.
“I started triple jump in June of 2013.  My mom did triple jump in all of high school and I would say that is what really got me into it, because she could mentor me with my experiences.”

On other sports she is involved in:  “I am involved currently in volleyball at my high school.  I was the only freshman to make the Varsity team and I am a starter. So I am not just on the team, I am a factor on the team.”

 

Ja’Mari Ward

Cahokia (Ill.) HS, Class of 2016
PR:  46-9i (US#1 frosh), 46-8 (#2 frosh), 48-6.5nwi (US#2 frosh, all-cond.)
Notes:  Ward was the nation’s top freshman in ’13 indoors and only Angelo Gordon TX had longer outdoor marks (both legal and all-cond.) ... had five meets (all-cond.) at 47 feet or better in TJ ... he was also the nation’s top 9th-grade LJ’er indoors (23-4.5), outdoors (23-7.75) and all-cond. outdoor (24-2) ... doubled the USATF Youth champs in the horizontals ... won the state 2A LJ and 3rd in the TJ ... won the LJ and 2nd in TJ at Illinois Prep Top Times (indoor state meet).

Coach Mack:  “Ja'Mari Ward, being the only male in this year's group, has an interesting story.  He has jumped 48'11” as a 14-year-old freshman.  He won every triple jump competition he entered last season and he never took all six of his jumps.  This year, the World Youth Trials were held in his home state of Illinois and he probably would have been the hometown favorite if it weren't for one small thing: he was too young.  The rules for USATF Youth competition state that all competitors must be at least 15 years of age.”

Comments from Ja’Mari:

How he found out about the project:  “My coach actually came to me one day and gave me the paper for Project Triple Jump.  He also told me that I should try to get accepted into the program, because this was known to help jumpers get better and that it would help me get more experience.”

His reaction to be chosen:  “I was very happy because I think this is a good chance for me to see how good I can be.”

His desired areas of improvement and goals with the Project:  “During this Project, I would like to improve all of the aspects of my jumping and meet a lot of new people.”

How he feels about getting to travel to and train in The Bahamas next year:  “I am very excited ... I have never been out of the country, so I would love to see how another country looks and how it would feel to practice on the beach.”

How he discovered and became interested in the triple jump:  “The first time I became interested in triple jump was when I saw my older brother jump.  The first time I actually did triple jump was the summer of 2010.”

On whether he’s interested in other sports, as well:  “The only other sport I am involved with is cross country.”

 

Nashedah Mumin

Mission Oaks HS (Tulare, Calif.), Class of 2016
PR: 39-9.5 (US#1 frosh in 2013, #23 overall)
Notes:  Exploded to her big PR, with a legal 1.0 wind, at the Central Section Masters meet in Clovis ... had three other meets in the 37s, including at the state prelims, where she was 18th ... had a long jump best of 18-0 (nwi) ... twice cleared 5-4 in the high jump and won two meets, showing her all-around hops.

Coach Mack:  “Nasheda's a young talent; as a freshman she was the first female from her school to qualify for California Central Section finals.  Her mark was also a school record.  She has the potential to go very far in the triple jump.  With the right guidance, there is no telling how far she can go.”

Comments from Nashedah:

How she found out about the project:  “My high jump coach called my mom, and my mom told me about it and gave me the information about it.”

Her reaction to be chosen:  “I was very excited!  I'm blessed that I am that one teenage girl in California, among millions, to get to travel to places I have never been to before.”

Her desired areas of improvement and goals with the Project:  “With the coaching I am getting in this project, my goals are to get my second phase extended a lot more and to jump 43 feet or further.  Most importantly, I want to push myself to reach new distances, but also I want to have fun.”

How she feels about getting to travel to and train in The Bahamas next year:  I just feel ecstatic and very excited to go to the Bahamas next year.  I never been to an island like the Bahamas or out of California at all, before.

How she discovered and became interested in the triple jump:  “I got interested in the event at the beginning of 7th-grade.  I was at track practice one day and, at the time, was just doing the long jump.  One of my older teammates said if I did long jump, I might as well do triple jump.
“It was very difficult to do something that looks so easy to do it yourself ... like when I have to bicycle my first phase, then hold my right leg long as I can, then land on my side and stretch my legs before I land.  I'm not a PRO yet, but I'm learning how to be one.  It takes time, dedication and practice, but triple jump is a amazing event that I love dearly to my heart.”

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