Shane Green was contemplating a tweek after a disappointing jump.
“I was going to change my approach,” the Erasmus Hall senior said. “Something told me to leave it.”
Good thing.
Green would go on to jump a personal best 49 feet 8 inches to win the triple jump at the PSAL indoor city championships Saturday at the Armory. The leap was the best in the state and second best in the country this season behind Middletown’s Marquis Dendy’s jump of 52-1.50.
The adjustment he pondered making was moving his mark up a few feet because he was missing the jumping board. It caused him to foul in the trials. His season’s best jump, which came on his second attempt of the finals, occurred at the right time. The state championship meet is right around the corner on March 5 at Cornell University.
“I’m not pressuring myself to get 50 [feet],” Green said. “Even though the PSAL record [49-9] was close. I wasn’t really pressuring myself.”
Enekwechi bests own shot put mark: Chukwuebuk Enekwechi is bent on staying full speed ahead.
“I’m on my toes,” the Francis Lewis shot putter said. “I don’t want a big crash. I’m kind of like in dream land.”
The senior recently had the best throw of his career in the at PSAL indoor championships, winning the event with a mark of 62-2.25. It is also the best in the state this season and the second furthest in PSAL history, besting his mark of 61-3.75 from last year. Enekwechi said Patriots coach Ralph Montanaro has him on a master plan of progression, one that they are right on track for. He’s gotten back on track after being sick in early February. His next goal is to win at states and set a meet record.
“He’s doesn’t tell me as we go along,” Enekwechi said. “He only tells me if we hit it or not. The end goal is a bit further than I am now, but not out of reach.”
Dozo’s Philson continues successful season: It’s been a steady climb for Lateisha Philson. The Benjamin Cardozo junior had been one of the best hurdlers in the country over the last three seasons, but this year she is at the top of the heap. Philson’s time of 7.84 in the 55 meter hurdles, run at the Colgate Womens Games on early January, is the best in the nation this year. Teammate Akayla Anderson has the second best time in the state this season with a mark of 8.13.
“We keep each other focused,” Philson said.
She won the PSAL city title in the event with a mark of 8.02 without really breaking a sweat and also ran 6.94 to win the 55 dash, which is the second fastest in PSAL history and third best in the country this season. Philson has combined more speed with her hurdling drills this season. Philson hope to run 7.5 in the hurdles before the season is over.
“It’s gotten me down to eight flat,” she said. “It’s got me down to 7.9. My times have been very good.”