National Scholastic Athletics Foundation

Chinne Okoronkwo photo by Joy Kamani

Big things are happening for the National Scholastic Athletics Foundation’s Project Triple Jump athletes as January begins to wind down!  Less than a month after the completion of a second successful domestic camp under the tutelage of Coaches Peter Pratt and Macka Jones, many of the jumpers have begun their seasons and more are set to start this weekend (Jan. 24-25) at the New Balance Boise Indoor.

Let’s zero in on the specifics.  Last weekend, no less than three Project Triple Jumpers were victorious in major meets. 

• Ja’Mari Ward (Cahokia, IL sophomore) perhaps opened eyes the widest as he popped a US#2 49-00.75 at the Arkansas Invitational in Fayetteville, a big PR and just nine inches off the sophomore class HSR for the TJ.  Ja’Mari is already the frosh class record-holder in the event and he improved his indoor best by more than two feet.  Ja’Mari was also 2nd in the long jump with a strong 23-1.25, just a quarter-inch behind the winner.  He will also be in Boise this weekend.
• Felicienne Axel (Columbus, TX junior) had a very solid pair of opening performances, like Ja’Mari winning the TJ and getting 2nd in the LJ at the Carl Lewis Invite in Houston.  She leapt US#9 38-00.25 in the former and had a 17-9 for the latter
• Arielle Mack (Burges, El Paso, TX freshman) bounded 34-4.25 to take the Great Southwest Classic in Albuquerque.  The jump was less than two inches off her PR.  Arielle has been at it less than a year and has been playing volleyball and basketball most of the school year.  But she’s gearing up for track and will be in Boise, too.

And speaking of Boise, Ward and Mack won’t be the only Project TJ’ers on hand.

• KeAndre Bates (Burges, El Paso, TX senior) will make his 2014 debut and it will be a treat to see the senior, second-year Project veteran competing against Ja’Mari, his young, fast-rising sophomore “teammate!”  Bates had a stellar 2013, of course, making the World Youth final with his PR 51-6.25, as well as winning Great Southwest, Texas Relays, and USATF JOs.  That PR makes him the nation’s top returnee in 2014.
• Chinne Okoronkwo (Mountlake Terrace, WA sophomore) will also make her 2014 debut and pole vault fans can look forward to seeing her there, too!  Chinne doesn’t get a lot of changes to jump indoors, but last year she was 2nd at Simplot with 39-5.5i to rank as theUS#1 frosh, then her 38-10.5 outdoors was US#2 among 9th-graders – with a 40-0nwi to boot, best among all 9th-graders again!
• And, jumping for the first time indoors – and the first time outside of California – will be Nashedah Mumin (Mission Oaks, Tulare, CA sophomore).  Nashedah was right there with Okoronkwo as the nation’s best 9th-graders last spring, ranking best with legal jumps outdoors with her 39-9.5 at her Central Section Masters meet.

Also, keep an eye on the New Balance Games in New York as Keturah Orji (Mt. Olive, Flanders, NJ senior) makes her jumping debut.  No, she won’t be contesting the TJ, but she’ll be in the LJ – where she was no less than the silver medalist in Donetsk!

Finally, an alumni note:  Former Project TJ’er Jeremiah Green, now a U. of Alabama frosh, has the early collegiate lead in the TJ with a 52-6.5!  Green, of course, was an NBN double champ last year, taking both the indoor and outdoor TJs.  It’s exciting to see he’s picking right up where he left off.