Lickity-Splits Avery Cracks 15-Foot Barrier in Long Jump

In the aftermath of Saturday's storm, Collegeville native and 8th-grader Brayden Avery, 14, leapt 15'1" yesterday to place 4th in the boys 15-16 age group indoor track competition at Ocean Breeze on Staten Island. About 1300 kids, many of them MontCo locals, and their families made their way up 95 to the New York venue-a regular stopover each long MLK Weekend-one of the world's fastest and most accomodative for runners, jumpers and throwers.

Avery's long jump PR was a nice cap to earlier races in the 55 (8.09s) and 300 (48.3) MD meter dashes.

Teammate Ella Esplin, Harleysville, won silver after a massive 23-foot-plus put (7.23m) in the Girls 11-12 six-pound shot. She was also 19th in the 55MD in 8.73.

On the boys side, Lansdale's Andrew Mangol, was 9th in the Boys 9-10 long jump in a PR 3.21m (10'7") and 49th in the 300MD in 1:04. Distance runner Alexis Sanchez of Hatfield ran 6:15 in the 1500-overall 26th in the Boys 11-12 category-and finished 22nd in the LJ (2.90m/9'4"). Sanchez attends Hatfield ES as a 6th-grader.

The Indian Valley youth, open and masters' club's next indoor meets are in February in Reading 02-02 and Tom's River 02-09. Google LSA winter track for local info.