14 Feb. 2010 – A day after the State Indoor Track & Field Championships debuted at the new PCTA track, an event billed as a “Jump Fest’’ took place, in which the long and triple jumps, and the pole vault, were contested for boys and girls. The “Fest’’ yielded some fine performances, the highlights of which were in the girls’ triple jump and the boys’ pole vault.
In the triple, Smithfield senior Kim Ezeama equaled a Rhode Island state indoor record that has been on the books since 2000. Ezeama’s leap combined for a winning distance of 11.25 meters (36 feet, 11 inches), thus tying the mark set by Classical High’s Tolu Fayanjuola. Ezeama, who placed seventh in the State Meet 300 meters (43.87) was 10 inches ahead of the second-place finisher in the triple jump yesterday.
Over at the pole vault pit, meanwhile, Cranston West’s James Strawderman showed a packed house why he’s the region’s premiere practitioner of that event. Having easily cleared 4.57 meters (15 feet), Strawderman asked that the bar be hiked six inches; he cleared on his second attempt at 4.72 meters (15-6). The bar was again lifted to Strawderman’s liking: 4.83 meters (15-10). He hit the bar on each of his three attempts, but on the second try, the bar held for a second, then fell. (The boys’ indoor pole record is 4.80 meters, or 15-9, which was set by Barrington’s Brad Holtz in 2004). “I had the rhythm on my [approach] run,’’ said the Falcon Flyer. “I still tend to swing off the pole too early. I’m working on that.’’
Strawderman still has two major indoor meets in which to compete this season: the USAT&F Nationals and the Nike National Prep Championships.
Once More Around: Of the three field events at the “Jump Fest’’, only the long jump is contested at the March 5 New England Championships. Six jumpers from the state may declare for the regional meet.
