Alyssa Banales competes at the 2023 Nike Indoor Nationals
Last season was an outstanding demonstration of girls jump talent in the Lone Star state. Some of the best jumpers nationally were right here. Even though, some of those young ladies graduated, some very good girls returned for their junior and senior years.
The North Texas Jumps Showcase has become one of the best early season events of each season. Many top jumpers in the state get together for an early season shake out, but high-level low-stakes competition.
This year is no different.
We have eight girls you will want to keep an eye out for as they compete this weekend.
Hannah Forde (Frisco Panther Creek) - Forde finished second at last year's UIL 4A state meet in the triple jump thanks to a 38-7.25 PR. She will compete in the event this weekend.
Sydnee Burr (Cypress Park) - Last year's UIL 6A fifth place state meet finisher in the triple jump will compete in both the triple and long jump events.
She has a 40-0.75 seedin the triple, but a 39-9.50 PR and three meets where she jumped over 39 feet have her as one of the state's top jumpers. In the long jump, the Ohio State commit had four meets where jumped over 19-4 including a 19-10 at Region 2-6A; she placed fifth at the UIL 6A state meet.
Samantha Ennin (Major Impact) - Ennin saw success at the TTFCA Meet of Champions last spring. She won the triple jump with a 41-9 personal best and later added a 40-1 this summer. She jumped 38-9 for an indoor best At the Texas Tech Under Armour HS Classic, last indoor season, she went 38-9 for an indoor best.
In the long jump, Ennin had two meets with jumps over 19-4; she was the runner-up at TTFCA Meet of Champs last year.
Caitlyn Johnson (Frisco Independence) - The Independence junior has a 40-5.75 personal best from the TTFCA Meet of Champions as well as a 39-7.25 from the Region 2-5A Championships.
She is also competing in long jump this weeknd. Last year, she only had two meets where she didn't jump over 19-2. As a sophomore, she was third at UIL 5A state meet and at Great Southwest.
Lily Muzzy (Georgetown) - Muzzy is also competing in both events this weekend. She enters with a 41-7 seed and PR from her area championships last spring. As a sophomore, ended the season with four meets with jumps over 40 feet (fourth at TTFCA Meet of Champs - 40-1.25, won Great Southwest Track and Field Classic w- 41-6.5 jump, won AAU Region 19 Qualifier - 40-1.5, and then won the AAU JO Games with a 40-11.75)
At the UIL 6A state meet, she was fifth in the long jump and has a 18-9.25 PR.
Tristen Harris (West Feliciana) - Is the LHSAA Louisiana 4A state champ in the long jump and the 200m and added a runner-up in the 200m last outdoor season.
Just a junior, she the has a 19-4 PR from last year and had a 18-4.5 to win the indoor state title.
London Tucker (Burleson Centennial) - The senior was eighth at the UIL 5A state meet last year. She has a 20-1 PR and cleared over 19 feet of sand in six meets last year.
Alyssa Banales (Major Impact) - Banales will again be one of the most talented jumpers in the country this season. She is top ranked returning indoor long jumper and the US No. 2 returning long jumper outdoors as she opens this weekend with a 20-8.50 seed and indoor PR from this meet last winter.
The Florida commit had five meets with jumps over 20 feet in the 2022 season. She jumped a 20-10.75 that won her the Great Southwest and a 20-5 from the Nike Outdoor Nationals where she was runner-up.