It took one jump for Greg Foster to move into 4th place on the all-time Princeton University long jump list.
Foster, a Lumberton native and Lawrenceville School graduate, began his collegiate jumping career with a 25-2 jump Saturday at the Joe Handelman Invitational at Princeton’s Jadwin Gym.
That was his only legal jump. He fouled twice, then passed on his last three attempts, but still won the event by more than four feet over Jadon Ra-Akbar of Morgan State, who was 2nd in 21-0 ¾.
Foster’s jump is 2nd-best by a Princeton athlete indoors in the last quarter century. Aviram Shwarzbard jumped 25-6 ¼ at Heps in February at the 168th Street Armory.
Foster’s jump was only 2 ½ inches shy of his indoor PR of 25-4 ½, which he jumped in his last indoor meet – when he won the Nike Indoor Nationals at Ocean Breeze in March. His lifetime best is 25-6 ¼ when he won New Balance Outdoor Nationals in June at Franklin Field.
Last weekend, in his first career college meet, Foster won the 60-meter hurdles at The College of New Jersey Opener at the Armory in 8.06, No. 9 in Princeton history.
Through two weekends, Foster is ranked No. 4 in NCAA Division 1 in the long jump and No. 1 among freshmen. He’s 29th in the hurdles and No. 6 among freshmen.
Here’s a look at the top 10 indoor long jumpers in Princeton history:
26-3 … Al Dyer [1990]
25-6 ¼ … Aviram Shwarzbard [2022]
25-5 ½ … Ugwunna Ikpeowo [1996]
25-2 … Greg Foster [2022]
25-1 ¾ … Tom Hopkins [2014 ]
25-0 ½ … Vince Smith [1990]
24-9 ¼ … Damon McLean [2013]
24-9 ¼ … Joe Sinisi [1988]
24-9 … Dwaine Banton [2005]
24-8 ½ … Bob Igoe [1985]
24-8 ½ … Jay Diamond [1986]
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 