The two top long jumpers in the state will face off on Saturday. Senior Ben Cotton of John Bapst popped off a huge personal best 21-6 1/2 to win the EMITL last weekend, that mark improved on his previous Class B leader of 20-9 3/4. Junior Jon Rodrigues of York did the same to win the WMC championship as he got out to 21-0 3/4, improving on his his previous best of 19-8. Old Town's Liang-Kang Lin will be in the mix, he has a best of 2-0-5 3/4 on the season. Don't sleep on York's Zach Westman who is one of the best all around athletes in the meet, he is seeded 4th with a best of 19-11 1/2. Speaking of athletes, Belfast's Jack Hansen has the same distance as Westman 19-11 1/2 entering the meet.
A year ago Hansen was the runner-up as a freshman with his 20-0 3/4 jump. Lin was third a year ago as a sophomore jumping out to 19-9. The other returning scorer is senior Tony Manev of Orono who finished 7th at 18-10, he enters the competition as the 6th best on the season at 19-11.
Event 22 Boys Long Jump
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State Record: 22-07.75 1989 Rob Pendergist, Ellsworth
'17 Champion: 20-04.75 Kyle Farrar, Mountain Valley
18-09.00 AUTO Automatic
17-09.00 PROV provisional
Name Year School Seed Mark
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1 Ben Cotton SR John Bapst 21-06.50 AUTO
2 Jon Rodrigues 19 York 21-00.75 AUTO
3 Liang-Kang Lin JR Old Town 20-05.75 AUTO
4 Zach Westman 18 York 19-11.50 AUTO
5 Jack Hansen SO Belfast 19-11.50 AUTO
6 Tony Manev SR Orono 19-11.00 AUTO
7 Atticus Deeny JR Ellsworth 19-09.25 AUTO
8 Gaberiel Carrigan JR Brewer 19-06.50 AUTO
9 Ethan Nurick JR Waterville 19-04.00 AUTO
10 Elijah Veilleux SO Old Town 19-03.00 AUTO
11 Jordan Wood SR Brewer 19-02.00 AUTO
12 Aaron Palmer JR Ellsworth 19-00.50 AUTO
13 Nicolas Brown JR Greely 18-11.75 AUTO
14 Michael Geary SR Greely 18-09.25 AUTO