Girls Jumps
Corrin, Orji lead wave of medal threats

By Steve Underwood

Long Jump
Team USA Meet History:  Jennifer Clayton NY won the sole medal for Americans in this event in 2009 with her 19-10.25 for bronze (20-10.75 in prelims).  Beyond that, Kamesha Whitmire was 6th in 2001, Erica McLain was 8th in 2003, and A’Lexus Brannon was 8th behind Clayton in 2009.  Team USA selected no one for this event in 2011.

Team USA Roster (HS, Grad Yr, hometown)
Courtney Corrin, Harvard-Westlake CA, 2016 (Playa Vista, Calif.)
Keturah Orji, Mt. Olive NJ, 2014 (Budd Lake, N.J.)
Chyna Ries, George Washington, CO (Denver, Colo.)

IAAF World List (rank among WYC entries when diff. than list #)
1. 21-5.5, Florentina Marincu, ROU
2 (3). 21-0, Courtney Corrin, USA
3 (4). 20-11.25, Fatima Diame, ESP
4 (2). 20-9.25, Rong Wang, CNH (21-1.25i)
5. 20-7.25, Keturah Orji, USA
6. 20-5.25, Benedetta Cuneo, ITA
7. 20-4.25, Chyna Ries, USA
7. 20-4.25, Saskia Kossman, GER

Team USA Hopes/Preview:  The instances of Team USA being competitive in this event, or even sending someone, have been few and far between.  But in 2013, this should be one of the most highly anticipated battles involving Americans.  Corrin has been one of the great stories of the US prep track and field year, crushing the frosh USR and running the table during an epic California campaign.  She capped it off with a New Balance Nationals victory and then hit her PR to win the Trials.  On top of all that, she’s been Ms. Consistency.  New Jersey’s Orji battled Corrin for every inch in both NBNO and the Trials, even though her true specialty is the triple jump.  And by adding Trials 3rd-place finisher Ries, Team USR has a great potential replacement for the jumps or sprints, and a possible relay leg.

But here, they’ll both be looking up to Romania’s mighty Marincu, who is favored in both horizontals.  The favorite has three meets over 21 feet, topped by her world leader.  She is “only” #15 on the all-time list, but #2 since 2001.  For the first time this year, Corrin won’t be favored – but will be challenged like never before.  Some other strong entrants from China and Spain should make this one of the best events of the meet.


Triple Jump
Team USA Meet History:  Although Team USA has won just one medal in this event, some super American TJ’ers have competed here.  Michelle Sanford won bronze in 2001, and prep record-setters Brittany Daniels TX and Erica McClain CA were 5th and 7th in 2003.  Then in 2009, Ciarra Brewer CA was also 7th.

Team USA Roster (HS, Grad Yr, hometown)
Keturah Orji, Mt. Olive NJ, 2014 (Budd Lake, N.J.)

IAAF World List (rank among WYC entries when diff. than list #)
1. 44-9.5, Rong Wang, CHN (46-2.25i)
2. 44-0.75, Nubia Soares, BRA
3. 43-9.25, Keturah Orji, USA
4. 43-7.75, Florentina Marincu, ROU
5. 43-6, Jing Zhao, CHN

Team USA Hopes/Preview:  In the triple jump, Orji will contest her specialty and – with no Corrin here – will battle the likes of China’s Wang and Romania’s Marincu alone.  Orji moved to #6 on the all-time prep list with her PR at NBNO and has been ruling this event nationally all year.  Wang, though, will be very hard to beat – with not only an outdoor best that is solidly atop the list, but with an epic indoor best over 46 feet.  Brazil’s Soares, Marincu, and China’s Zhao are all in the mid-43s and 44s.


Pole Vault
Team USA Meet History:  No American has ever medaled in this event.  Top finishes: USR-holder Morgan LeLeux LA was 5th in 2009, Julene Bailey 7th in 2001, and Sydney White NC 8th in 2011.

Team USA Roster (HS, Grad Yr, hometown)
Desiree Freier, Justin Northwest TX, 2014 (Fort Worth, Texas)
Zoe McKinley, Grapevine TX, 2015 (Hurst, Texas)

IAAF World List (rank among WYC entries when diff. than list #)
1. 14-3.25, Robeilys Peinado, VEN
2. 14-1.75, Nina Kennedy, AUS
3 (4). 13-11.25, Noelina Madarieta, ARG
4 (7). 13-9, Desiree Freier, USA
5. 13-7.75, Kaitlyn Merritt, USA
6 (5). 13-7.25, Reena Koll, EST (13-11i)
...
8 (3). 13-5.25, Alena Lutkovskaya, RUS (14-1.25i)
8 (9). 13-5.25, Olga Zyuzina, UKR
10 (10). 13-2.5, Zoe McKinley, USA
...
13 (6). Krista Obizajeva, LAT (13-9.25 in ’12)
(italicized not entered in WYC)

Team USA Hopes/Preview:  It’s a challenge to assess the competition, given that some PRs are from indoor or 2012, but two things are clear: Team USA’s Freier has a good chance to become the first American to medal – especially if she can hit her 13-9 or so level where she’s been fairly consistent – and no one has gone higher than Venezula’s Peinado.  McKinley is a solid bet to make the final.


High Jump
Team USA Meet History:  Team USA has never won a girls’ HJ medal here.  The highest finish was 8th by Shanay Brisco TX in 2009.  She actually competed in the 2008 World Juniors and Olympic Trials prior to her WY performance.

Team USA Roster (HS, Grad Yr, hometown)
Alexa Harmon-Thomas, Lawrence Free State KS, 2014 (Lawrence, Kan.)

IAAF World List (rank among WYC entries when diff. than list #)
1. 6-1.25, Eleanor Patterson, AUS
2. 6-0.75, Morgan Lake, GBR
3 (2). 6-0.5, Nawal Meniker, FRA
4. 6-0, Vashti Cunningham, USA
4 (3).6-0, Elina Kakko, FIN
4. 6-0, Michaela Hruba, CZE
...
8 (4). 5-11.25, Ana Paula De Oliveira, BRA
8 (4). 5-11.25, Fanny Pinteau, FRA
8 (4). 5-11.25, Ximena Lizbeth Esquivel, MEX
8. 5-11.25, Cyre Virgo, USA
...
-- (4) Sophie Frank, GER (5-11.25i)
-- (13) Alexa Harmon-Thomas USA (5-10.5i)
(italicized not entered in WYC)

Team USA Hopes/Preview:  Several would-be contenders are not competing, such as world #2 Lake from Great Britain, or didn’t attempt to qualify – such as standout Americans Cunningham (W#4) and Virgo (W#8).  The Aussie Patterson, though, has been consistent at 6-0 and 6-1, making her a very solid favorite.  American Harmon-Thomas is also entered in the heptathlon as well.  She’s an excellent jumper and could well make the final.  To have a chance to medal, she’ll probably have to raise that PR she set indoors.