India Alix jumped two PRs at the first meet of the season including the No. 6 A-T long jump
India Alix interviews after her all-time performance
India Alix (Klein)
The Florida commit showed everyone this weekend why she was a heavily jump recruit from the 20223 class. India Alix, the two-time medalist from last season's UIL 6A state meet jumped her second farthest distance in the long jump with her 20-11.75 and bettering her personal all-time best triple jump of 42-6. The 20-11.75 also ties the No. 6 best jump all-time in Texas (indoor and outdoor). It also ties the fifth best all-time indoor jump by an American High School girl.
After finishing runner-up in the long jump in Austin last year, Alix went on to jump over 20 feet three times and added the third place state meet triple jumpers popped a 40 footer after state.
We know that with this start, Alix should be the favorite heading into the upcoming indoor and outdoor season in the horizontal jumps in Texas and possibly nationally as well.
Miles Jones (Mansfield Lake Ridge)
The most accomplished jumper from Mansfield Lake Ridge is a name that'll probably never be forgotten. Jasmine Moore is one of the best high school jumpers in US history. However, Miles Jones is bringing attention to the school's jump pits. This passed weekend, Jones jumped an indoor PR of 24-3 to win the North Texas Showcase.
The dual sport senior has split time between basketball and track with things picking up last year as a junior, but he had four jumps over 23-5 in the 2022 outdoor track and field season including a 24-0 and a 24-0 jump.
Now, if you're thinking some of those meets don't have the best tools for measuring and no wind gauges that you might on to something. Despite the great season, he finished fourth at the Region 2-6A Championships with a 23-01.5 best jump, but didn't qualify for the state meet. Neither of those factors are relevant with this jump. The meet was indoors and in the hands of USATF certified officials.
With this winning performance, we learned Jones is a legit jump star and could be one of the breakout stars this indoor season. He should also quickly jet upthe college recruiting ranks.
Taylor Fingers (Mansfield Timberview)
The Timberview senior is ready for the 2023 track and field season; while she didn't capture a win this weekend, she did set two personal bests. Fingers only had done meet where she jumped over 40 feet. That was at state where she went 50-5.75 to finish fourth; she was otherwise consistent at 38 high to 39 mid. This weekend, she jump over an entire foot beyond that to land with a 41-9.25 lifetime best triple jump mark.
While Fingers was the 5A long jump runner-up in Austin, that didn't stop her from putting in the off-season work in the event. She showed us she shouldn't be the favorites this year due to being the top returner from the state meet, but her 19-6.25 matches her state meet jump and lets us know she is ready to take the reigns.
Xavier Drumgoole (Round Rock)
Xavier Drumgoole opened his junior track and field season with two PR jumps; he starts off jumping farther than ending last outdoor season. Drumgoole went 22-9.75 in the long jump to finish fourth. It was his premiere event that saw him really excel. His 49-2.5 surpassed his 47-7.25 outdoor best that earned him second place at the AAU Junior Olympics Games.
Drumgoole had already has established himself as a solid jumper. As a sophomore, he was a UIL 6A state meet qualifier, finishing sixth in 2022, but now he could really see things take off.
Alyssa Banales (Major Impact/McKinney North)
Banales has given us a lot to entertain us at track and field meets before; her heptathlon prowess and everything she has displayed in both vertical and horizontal jumps has proven her capabilities are through the roof.
At the North Texas Showcase, she only gave us a sneak peak into what she has been working on in the off season.That peak was to a tune of a 20-8.50 best jump to finish second behind India Alix. That's the best jump on record for Banales; I'd say she is ready for the indoor season.
Raina Pietrzak (Dallas Highland Park)
The Highland Park senior is another talented multi-event star. This weekend, she excelled in the long jump and posted a 19-8.75 mark to win her flight. In fact, she was the third best jumper in the meet with the merge.
That begins Pietrzak's year with over a foot of improvement on even her outdoor best jump. At this rate, Pietrzak could earn a lot of points in a heptathlon event. Until those competitions come up, we learned she could win several LJ only competitions.