National Scholastic Athletics Foundation

Remember when? Project TJ's 2013-14 season began on the steps of a spacious hotel lobby in Dallas as we made do during unusually terrible November weather.

The 2014-15 season has begun for NSAF’s Project Triple Jump with its first clinic last month in Houston (Oct. 16-19).  Along with reviewing the terrific guest speakers we had and touting our newcomers, it’s also an opportunity to look at how our returnees did in 2013-14 – with the first meets of the upcoming season just weeks away.  And it’s also a chance to say goodbye to the graduating seniors.

The past season was an exciting one for Project athletes as Project Coordinator Macka Jones joined Bahamian Head Coach Peter Pratt to lead the coaching and training.  We had more training and competitive opportunities than ever before, and most of the crew had a serious impact on either the New Balance Nationals indoor and outdoor results, national rankings, national lists, record books, Team USA berths … or all of the above.

It started with domestic clinics in Dallas (November) and Ft. Lauderdale (December).  It continued with a few athletes competing with some frequency undercover while others prepared for an early outdoor start – but all came together in New York for NBNI, with Keturah Orji doubling the girls’ horizontals, KeAndre Bates and Darrielle McQueen earning runner-up TJ finishes and some of the others placing well, too.

The outdoor season sent everyone toward shots at state titles – many of them successful – and some top invitational honors, as well.  But the biggest early outdoor highlight was Chinne Okoronkwo’s Youth Olympic Trials victory.  Everyone finally got together again at Great Southwest, with Keturah, KeAndre and Ja’Mari Ward racking up thrilling victories and Chinne getting a big LJ PR, too.

Keturah won her 5th and 6th NBN titles in Greensboro later in June, while KeAndre earned a runner-up TJ finish.  Then we all headed to Chula Vista for another training session as Juniors loomed.  There, in Eugene, Keturah earned her second Team USA vest while KeAndre and Ja’Mari competed strongly while coming up just short.  The long year would then come to an end with Keturah making the World Junior TJ final, Chinne competing at the Youth Olympics in China, and some others enjoying various successes at USATF JOs.

Let’s now acknowledge those moving on to the next level: Departing Project Triple Jump as the 2014 season drew to a close were Keturah, KeAndre and Darrielle – and what a time they had with us!  Keturah (Mt. Olive, NJ) and Keandre were with us for two years, with Keturah twice representing Team USA in IAAF World meets, winning Youth medals in 2013 in both horizontal jumps, and racking up numerous other major meet titles – including six in New Balance Nationals Indoor and Outdoor meets.  She’s now at University of Georgia. 

KeAndre (El Paso Burges, TX) made the 2013 World Youth triple jump final and it seemed like he was everywhere in 2014 – his many medals and high placings including a victorious triple jump/high jump double (plus long jump 2nd) at Great Southwest.  He’s at University of Florida.  And Darrielle’s senior season at North Florida Christian had several big highlights, as well, as she continued to dominate in Florida (7 career 1A state titles) and scored well at NBN and other major meets – including 2nd in the NBNI triple jump.

Say goodbye to three NSAF greats with deeper details on our graduates:
 

Keturah Orji, Mt. Olive, NJ (now at U. of Georgia)

Completed two years in the Project … was unbeaten among preps this year in the TJ and lost just once in the LJ … ranked #1 in TJ and #2 in LJ by Track & Field News for 2nd straight year … indoors she doubled at NBNI, with US#1 44-2 (#2 all-time) TJ (defending ’13 title) and 20-5.25 … previously had US#1 20-8.75 LJ at NB Games … outdoors she won major invitational TJ crowns at Penn and Great Southwest (44-9w) … took her 3rd straight NJ Meet of Champs LJ/TJ double … defended NBNO title in TJ and won 1st LJ title, tying PR with US#1 20-11.75 … at USA Juniors, earned 2nd Team USA vest with 44-1.5 win in TJ, then just missed in LJ with 20-10.5w … made World Junior final with US#1 44-2 in qualifying, then took 9th in final … previously won LJ silver and TJ bronze at the 2013 World Youth Champs, becoming #2 all-time in the latter at 44-11 … her junior year also included NBNI and NBNO titles, and a 2nd at Penn – which was her only TJ loss her final two years.
 

Keandre Bates, El Paso Burges, TX (now at U. of Florida)

Completed two years in the Project … ranked #2 in TJ by Track & Field News … best meet was probably Great Southwest, where he won his 2nd TJ there with US#1 50-9.5, the HJ at a PR 6-8.75 and was 2nd in LJ at 24-3.75w … had five meets over 50 feet in TJ, losing only twice … took 3rd at USA Juniors in TJ at 50-5.5 (2nd prep) and 8th in LJ with US#10 24-5.5 … went for doubles in both NBN meets, taking 2nd in both TJs and 7th and 5th in the respective LJs … also claimed triple jump titles at the Texas Relays, Chandler Rotary Invite, New Balance Boise Indoor and USATF JOs.
 

Darrielle McQueen, North Florida Christian, FL (now at U. of Florida)

Completed one year in the Project … her only career indoor meet was a huge one as she took 2nd to Orji at 2014 NBNI, hitting a US#2 and overall PR of 41-3.5 … two big outdoor highlights came early, as she defended her Florida Relays (US#12 40-8.25) and Florida State Relays titles … concluded her great FHSAA career with her 5th 1A state title in TJ and just missed her 3rd state LJ title … finished in June with 3rd at Great Southwest TJ and 7th at NBNO TJ … showed valuable leadership qualities that will serve her well as a student-athlete and in life, in general … was invited to Project after 2013 outdoor season where she won seven major TJ titles, also including Caribbean Scholastic, USATF JO, Golden South and Bob Hayes – in addition to 1A state, Florida and FSU Relays.

Meanwhile, our five non-seniors – Felicienne Axel and newcomers Chinne Okoronkwo, Ja’Mari Ward, Nashedah Mumin and Arielle Mack – enjoyed a lot of success in 2014 as well.  That included Chinne and Ja’Mari emerging as the top sophomore triple jumpers in the country.  Both placed high in major meets all year, earning All-American rankings, with Chinne winning the Youth Olympic Trials and earning a chance to compete in China.

But that all is just scratching the surface.  Check it out:

Chinne Okoronkwo, Mountlake Terrace, WA, Class of 2016

Returns having completed one year in Project … ranked #2 in TJ by Track & Field News and topped all sophs on list … biggest 2014 win was Youth Olympic Trials TJ in early April with 41-6.5w all-conditions PR (also 40-6.5 legal), which earned her a ticket to the Youth Olympics in China – where she was 2nd in the ‘B’ Final … a year of strong progress started indoors, where she was 2nd at Simplot TJ, then 5th at NBNI with US#5 40-3.25 … won TJ and LJ at 3A state, and was 2nd in the PV … at Great Southwest, she was 2nd in both horizontals, with a particularly impressive 19-11.75w for 2nd in the LJ … at NBNO, she took 4th in both TJ and LJ … a few weeks later, she was 5th at USA Juniors in the TJ (2nd prep) … legal TJ PR came at USA JOs, where she hit US#6 41-3.75 for 4th.
 

Ja’Mari Ward, Cahokia IL, Class of 2016

Returns having completed one year in the Project … ranked #4 in both TJ and LJ by Track & Field News and topped all sophs on both national lists … overcame injuries off and on all year for outstanding finishes of 5th (4th prep) in the TJ (50-0w) and 7th (2nd prep) in LJ (US#7 24-6.5) at USA Juniors … most eye-popping moment came in the LJ, when he exploded to a winning 25-6.75w on his first attempt at Great Southwest … triple jump PR came at Winston Brown Invite with US#4 50-6.5 (also went 24-5.5) … had 5 meets over 49 and 5 over 24 outdoors … won 2A state TJ outdoor title and was 2nd in LJ … indoors, he leapt US#3 50-2.5 TJ, a soph class national record (adding to his frosh class mark in 2013), and also hit 23-11.5 … also 7th at NBNI in TJ before passing last attempts due to injury.
 

Felicienne Axel, Columbus, TX, Class of 2015

Returns having completed two years in the Project … also had to overcome injuries, especially in the early part of the year … highlight came in May in Austin, when she repeated as Class 3A triple jump champ, hitting seasonal bests of 40-11.25w and 40-0.5 (legal) … was also 2nd at state in LJ … swept her Region 4-3A TJ and LJ, and also won her district LJ … post-season saw her take 5th in the Great Southwest TJ and 9th in the NBNO TJ … during indoors, she won the Carl Lewis Invite TJ and was 9th at NBNI.
 

Nashedah Mumin, Mission Oak, CA, Class of 2016

Returns having completed one year in the Project … injuries and other issues kept 2014 season from being all it could have been … highlights included a 38-9.5(nwi) TJ win at the Wilma Sams Invite (also won LJ) and a runner-up finish at the state Central Section Masters TJ, where she won with her career PR in 2013 … also had a solid runner-up finish in her first indoor meet, the New Balance Boise triple jump.
 

Arielle Mack, El Paso Burges, TX, Class of 2017

Returns having completed one year in the Project … the youngest participant in the Project as a 9th-grader in 2013-14, she started with an 8th-grade PR of 34-5.75 in her first year of the TJ … had more than half a dozen meets beyond her 2013 PR this past spring, led by a 36-7.75w for 5th in her District 1-4A meet … also surpassed 36 feet at NBNO and her USA JO Region 10 meet … also high-jumped 5-6 to win her district meet.