Long-jump prowess tends to be dependent on when all conditions align.
And even when they don’t, just a glimpse of that prowess can show how good it can be when that alignment occurs.
Andrew Merritt’s single attempt in boys long jump April 19 during the North Invitational likely won’t be going on any highlight reel as far as he’s concerned — it was simply what was necessary for the moment to aid University’s cause en route to the boys team title.
But where the US senior has been — and where he hopes to go — proves the best may still be yet to come.
Merritt went 19 feet, 9 inches to prevail at North, laudable considering the board and pit were not ideal due to weather leading into the meet and a brisk easterly wind wasn’t helpful during the open pit window, either.
As The News-Herald coverage area’s top boys long jumper, though — with deep 22-plus caliber, the top jump to date this spring locally and as the Division I state indoor champion — getting anywhere near 20 in less-than-ideal competitive circumstances yields some encouragement.
Merritt and the Preppers’ coaching staff felt it best to stop for the day after that one attempt, with loftier goals in mind as weather and competition areas cooperate in the weeks to come.
“Most of the pits I jump in, the sand is soft and the board is relatively nice,” Merritt said. “In cases like this, it’s just a mental game at that point. You can’t let that affect how you jump. So I say it’s just a mentality thing.
“(Wind) makes you run side to side instead of straight onto the board. Running side to side can really mess a jumper up. So yeah, wind definitely had an effect on jumpers today.”
He has already done plenty in 2024 to cement his place in his signature event.
The weekend prior to the North Invitational, during Walsh Jesuit’s John Hasenstab Warrior Relays, Merritt hit for a 22-0 1/4, the best individual attempt by nearly one foot in that meet. That makes him the first News-Herald coverage area boys long jumper to surpass 22 this spring in a deep campaign for the event locally. Four jumpers have already gone over 21-6, and eight are already 21-plus.
Merritt’s regular-season PR a year ago was a 22-6, so to be 22-plus earlier in the year gives him plenty of time to build.
“Yeah, it gets me ready for district, when I’ve got to go and be my best all four jumps in district and move on to regional and, eventually, state,” Merritt said. “Jumping 22 this early is a really good sign for not only me, but also for the team.”
In March, Merritt captured the D-I state indoor long jump crown at SPIRE with an effort of 22-2 1/4. Being 22 before outdoor commenced served as a springboard for momentum and confidence.
“The transition is relatively quick, unlike from fall sports to indoor,” Merritt said. “I took six weeks off from football to indoor, so the quick transition definitely helps because you stay on course with the workouts and practice.
“Definitely the approach run (has come along the most from my junior year). Last year, I was all over the place. I was jumping all the way back from like 110 and then as little as 99. And now, outdoor, I’m going consistently from like 104 1/2 and 104. The only time I really move is when there’s crazy wind like we had today. So I’d say definitely the approach, I’ve worked on that the best. I’d say that’s one of my strong suits this year.”
Hunting Valley has produced some outstanding long jumpers over the years, most recently Brian Kellon. A 2022 D-I state qualifier who battled injury as a senior, Kellon is a freshman this year competing at Ohio State. All told, US has had five outdoor long jump state qualifiers in its lore. Its last and lone top-four placer at state was Sedrick Thomas, who was D-II state runner-up in 1992.
Merritt would love nothing more than to snap that drought.
Conditions have to align in long jump. But when they do, as his work to date has indicated, few can maximize it the way Merritt can.
“Obviously, better weather and better conditions are definitely going to help with that,” Merritt said. “But as long as I keep working on that two-step, that straight leg right leg into the left leg jump, if I get that down perfectly, I’ll definitely jump a 23 — probably before district.”
