Timber Creek’s Jaden Johnson leaped his way into the all-time South Jersey triple jump top-10 Friday with his win at the state Group 3 meet at Pennsauken.
Johnson jumped 47-7 ½, some 9 ½ inches beyond his previous outdoor personal best of 46-10, which he hit at the South Jersey Elite at Delsea. He jumped 46-11 ¾ when he placed 4th at Ocean Breeze Nationals in March.
Johnson’s mark is tied for No. 10 in South Jersey history and tied for No. 5 in Camden County history. He’s closing in on the school record of 47-10 ½, set by Larry Russell Jr. at 2015 South Jersey Group 3 sectionals at Central Regional.
Through four jumps Friday, South Plainfield’s Joe Oduro led the event with a 46-0 ½ on his 3rd attempt, with Johnson in second two inches behind with a 45-10 ½ on his 3rd attempt.
But Johnson took the lead with a 46-11 ¼ on his 5th jump and then popped the 47-7 ½ on his final attempt while Oduru fouled on his last two tries.
ALL-TIME SOUTH JERSEY TRIPLE JUMP LIST
50- 9 ¼ … Khaliel Burnett [Delsea], 2018
50- 6 ¾ …. Dominique Irons [Haddon Heights], 2013
49-11 ½ … Floyd Whitaker [Highland], 2022
48-10 ½ … Larry Russell [Timber Creek], 2015
48- 3 ¼ … Ryan Chance [Glassboro], 2009
48- 1 ½ … Orion Joyner [Kingsway], 2019
48- 1 ½ … Mubeen Momodu [Egg Harbor Twp.], 2019
48- 0 ………. Josh Butler [Delsea], 2006
47- 9 ¼ … Marcus Edghilll [Pemberton], 1981
47- 7 ½ … Mikhail Micheaux [Eastern], 2014
47- 7 ½ … Jaden Johnson [Timber Creek], 2022
47- 6 ½ … Chris Roundtree [Haddon Hts.], 2009
47- 5 ½ … Khaliel Burnett [Delsea], 2017
47- 5 ¼ … Kevin Kevelier [Collingswood., 2019
47- 5 ……… Steven Brown [Penns Grove], 2009
47- 4 ¾ … Cheo King [Woodbury], 2017
47- 4 ½ … Zakiyy Williams [Rancocas Valley], 2017
47- 4 ……… Tristan Wilson [Delsea], 2014
47- 3 ¼ … Antwan Dickerson [Pennsauken], 2013
47- 3 ……… Mike Baker [Cherry Hill West], 1976
47- 0 ¼ … Earnest Daniel [Kingsway], 2017
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 