Lumberton’s Greg Foster recorded his best long jump mark in nearly two years Friday afternoon with a 25-8 ¾ on his 2nd attempt at the Sam Howell Invitational at Weaver Stadium, his home track at Princeton University.
That was the best of three jumps of 25-4 or better in the best series of his life. He recorded three of the 9-best jumps of his life on Friday.
The 25-8 ¾ is Foster’s best jump since he PR’d at 26-1 ¾ at the 2003 Ivy League Championships at Franklin Field, his 4th-best jump ever and his 2nd-best outdoor jump. And it was also his best ever that wasn’t on his final attempt. Six of his eight-best all-time jumps have come on his 6th attempt.
He added a 25-4 on his 5th attempt and a 25-6 ¼ on his 6th, making this the first time he’s jumped 25-4 or better three times in the same meet and averaged 25-4 ¼ on his four legal jumps.
Foster, a graduate of Lawrenceville School, fouled on his 1st and 3rd attempts. He added a 24-10 ½ on his 4th jump before finishing with two more 25-footers. I don’t see any wind readings, but hopefully there was a wing guage there and the wind readings show up eventually.
Foster’s 25-8 ¾ is No. 20 among U.S. men and No. 4 in NCAA Division 1 so far this spring.
After the 2024 indoor season, Foster underwent foot surgery and didn’t compete for 11 months. He’s the top hurdler in the Ivy League at 13.93 from a meet in West Long Branch last weekend, but he hasn’t done a long jump-hurdles double yet this outdoor season.
Rider freshman Joel Blamon from Cinnaminson placed 5th with a season-best 22-3 1/2 on his 3rd jump.
Greg Foster All-Time 25-Foot Jumps
26-1 ¾ … Heps, Philadelphia, May 7, 2023 [6th jump]
25-10 ¾ … Wesley Brown Invitational, Annapolis, Md., Jan. 21, 2023, [6th jump]
25-9 ½ … Heps, Hanover, N.H., Feb. 26, 2023 [6th jump]
25-8 ¾ … Sam Howell Invitational, Princeton, April 4, 2025 [2nd jump]
25-6 ¼ … New Balance Nationals, Philadelphia, June 19, 2022 [6th jump]
25-6 ¼ … Sam Howell Invitational, Princeton, April 4, 2025 [6th jump]
25-4 ¾ … New Balance Nationals, Philadelphia, June 19, 2022 [5th jump]
25-4 ½ … Nike Indoor Nationals, Staten Island, March 13, 2022 [6th jump]
25-4 … Sam Howell Invitational, Princeton, April 4, 2025 [5th jump]
25-2 ¾ … H-Y-P, Cambridge, Mass., Jan. 28, 2023 [4th jump]
25-2 … Joe Handleman Invitational, Princeton, Dec. 10, 2022 [1st jump]
25-2 … H-Y-P, Cambridge, Mass., Jan. 28, 2023 [6th jump]
25-0 ½ … New Balance Nationals, Philadelphia, June 19, 2022 [4th jump]
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 