Jared breaks 23 foot barrier

Jared set a new personal best in long jump with a 6th round leap of 23′ 3/4″ at the MSTCA Boys Coaches Invitational (Globe feature, Herald feature, milesplit slideshow, photo gallery, 23′ jump video, 4x100m video).

He was in 3rd place after a respectable 21’8″ opener and a series that included two slight fouls. On his last jump he adjusted his mark to adapt to the varying tail wind and got right on the board. He also anchored the 4x100m to a win holding off Smith Charles, the 3rd fastest freshman in the country indoors (Smith won 100m in 10.90). This was an improvement of 9″ over his 22′ 3″ jump on Wednesday at Newton North and a foot over his 22′ “flat-pit” PR from indoors. This pit was perfectly flat but he did have a bit of an aiding tailwind.

The mark qualifies him for a Championship level entry to the New Balance Outdoor Nationals in Greensboro on June 18th.

Excerpts from Globe and Herald below.

Boston Globe:

Newton North senior Jared Prior knows all too well how to deal with adversity.

Coming off injury-plagued years the past two outdoor seasons, the Bowdoin College-bound Prior proved Saturday during the 41st annual boys’ MSTCA Invitational at BC High why he is still one of the top track athletes in the state.

Prior established a state outdoor season best in the long jump with his mark of 23 feet, ¾ inch, which topped second place by more than a foot.

“I came into this event feeling more in control of my body and my long jump approach than I have since my freshman year,” Prior said. “That last jump was really meaningful for me just to know what I am capable of, or at least finally see that I’m not just making it up when I think I can produce far jumps.”

During the indoor season, Prior said he had worked a lot on his rehabilitation and flexibility to build his strength.

Prior was also the anchor for the 4 x 100-meter relay team (43.51 seconds), which edged Milton (43.53), and was awarded one of the outstanding athlete of the meet plaques.

Boston Herald:

Prior rounded out the elite trio of Tigers with a Best in Field honor after he placed first in the long jump with a leap of 23 feet and three-quarters of an inch and then ran the final leg of the 4×100-meter relay to give the Tigers a narrow win over Milton.

“I was very surprised with 23 feet, but also very happy,” Prior said. “I’ve been wanting this for four years. So, of course, to get an award, to get the win and to get the mark, it all means a lot to me.”

Article ran at top of Globe online high school section (originally with headline “Newton Jorth”)

Globe Print Edition:

Herald Print Editions:

23′ jump:

Full set of jumps:

4x100m relay:

Documented “Flat Pit” 🙂