Winslow junior Leeya Joseph turned in a breakthrough long jump performance Tuesday night at the 89th annual Easterns at the Armory.
Joseph had a monster series, PR’d three times, had the four-best jumps of her life and placed 2nd with a best jump of 18-8 ½. Nya Thomas of North Rockland High in Thiells, N.Y., Rockland County, won the event with an 18-11 ¾.
The average of Joseph’s six jumps Tuesday was higher than her previous PR.
Joseph came into the meet with a lifetime-best 17-7 ¼ from her 2nd-place finish last spring at South Jersey Group 2 sectionals at Delsea as a sophomore at Sterling. Her previous-best indoor jump was a 16-3 at the Bishop Loughlin Games at Ocean Breeze in December.
Her 18-8 ¾ is No. 9 in South Jersey history and No. 2 in New Jersey this year behind Morgan Holley of Union Catholic, who jumped 19-2 in January at Ocean Breeze. She won the Meet of Champions on Sunday at 18-10 ¼ but didn’t compete at Easterns.
Winslow has had four girls jump 18-8 or better indoors. The rest of South Jersey combined has had five.
Joseph opened with jumps of 17-3, 17-5 ½ and a PR 17-10 in the trials, then jumped a PR 18-0 ¾, another 17-10 before popping the 18-8 ½ on her final attempt, moving from 3rd into 2nd.
She averaged 17-0 ¼ on her six jumps, good enough to place 5th overall.Joseph’s 18-8 1/2 is 6th-best by a South Jersey girl in Easterns history. The first girls meet was held in 1980.
All-Time South Jersey Easterns list
20-6 ¼ … Carol Lewis (Willingboro), 1980
19-8 ¼ … Tionna Tobias (Winslow Twp.), 2018
19-8 … Cidae’a Woods (Winslow Twp.), 2013
19- 2 … Leah Ellis (Millville), 2019
18-9 … Shameka Speed [Bridgeton], 2002
18-8 ½ … Leeya Joseph [Winslow Twp.], 2025
All-Time South Jersey Indoor Long Jump List
21-7 ½ … Carol Lewis [Willingboro], 1981
19-8 ¼ … Tionna Tobias [Winslow], 2016
19-8 ……. Cidae’a Woods [Winslow], 2014
19-7 ½ … Helen Wilks [Bridgeton], 1993
19-3 ½ … Ma’Syiah Brawner [Winslow Twp.], 2024
19-3 …….. Leah Ellis [Millville], 2019
18-9 …….. Shameka Speed [Bridgeton], 2002
18-8 ¾ … Artrelia Turner [Wilson], 1984
18-8 ½ … Leeya Joseph [Winslow Twp.], 2025
18-7 ¼ … Shelly Bailey [Woodbury], 1982
18-6 ½ … Tisifinee Taylor [Woodbury], 2002
18-6 ½ … Asia Young [Holy Spirit], 2016
18-5 ¾ … Lindsey Walsh [Lenape], 2008
18-5 ¼ … Tacquaya Tobias [Our Lady of Mercy], 2011
18-5 …… Claudine Smith [Atlantic City], 2019
18-4 ¾ … Tonya Lee [Rancocas Valley], 1988
18-4 ¾ … Jaidah Garrett [Absegami], 2025
18-4 ½ … Kristin Tricocci [Cinnaminson], 2004
18-4 ¼ … Gabrielle Germann [Egg Harbor Twp.], 2020
18-4 … Isabella Alvarez [Pleasantville], 2025
18-2 ¾ … Sable Loper [Woodrow Wilson], 2005
18-2 ¼ … Karissa Watson [Williamstown], 2020
18-1 ¾ … Emily Carson [Haddonfield], 2013
18-1 ¼ … Bryanna Craig [Millville], 2020
18-1 ……. Jasmine Staten [Lenape], 2015
18-1 … Tierra Hooker [Timber Creek], 2020
18-0 ½ … Chantina Walker [Winslow], 2025
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 