Last Friday, Glen Oaks senior De-Andre Dunn put it all together in the boys long jump at the LHSCA Meet of Champions. Now, the Panther finds himself at the top of Louisiana's long jump rankings, and his coach could not be more excited.
"I'm very excited about the progress Deandre is making," Gen Oaks head coach Johnny Duncan said. "He is one of only three who have been with me all four years. He got injured during basketball season which caused him to cut his senior season short. Because of that injury, he couldn't participate during the state indoor championship. At the Meet of Champions, on his last jump in the finals, he told the athlete who was leading the competition 'I'm about to beat you.' He started the claps and stormed down the runway and hit the board perfect. I'm happy for him because at one point his career seems to be over and now he is No. 1 in Louisiana."
"This has been hard to trust my training and staying patient," Dunn said. "Everything clicked at the Meet of Champions, and hitting 23-5.25 means a lot. I know I still have more in me, so I'm excited to keep pushing and being La. No. 1."
After opening the season with a win at the Beth Dawson Relays, Dunn struggled to find consistency on the board. After jumping 21-5 at the Texas Relays, Dunn followed with an 18-9 mark at the EBR Metro Championships.
That was then, and this is now. As the Panthers enter the championship season, Dunn will look to prove his performance was no fluke.
Dunn's jump bumped West Monroe sophomore Aiden Parker, who had held the state's top mark of 23-5 since winning the Van Leigh Relays in Week 2. Like Dunn, Parker is searching for more consistency heading into the final weeks of the season. The 23-5 mark remains the only time Parker has surpassed 23 feet this year.
One long jumper who has battled inconsistency this season is Alexandria senior Noelle Williams, who leads Louisiana with a jump of 19-0.5. She has improved each week after opening the season with an 18-3.75 mark at her home meet. Her state-leading mark came at the 66th annual Oil City Relays.
Williams is also a member of the 40-foot club in the triple jump. Her mark of 40-3, recorded during the second week of the season, ranks No. 2 in the state behind Jonesboro-Hodge's Ciara Gray.
Last week, Gray recorded the best triple jump in LHSAA history with a mark of 41-9.5. She has surpassed 40 feet in all three of her meets this month. It is the most impressive display of consistency in the event since Ke'yona Gabriel of Central Lafourche cleared the 41-foot barrier in three consecutive weeks during her senior season.
While Gray's 41-9.5 is Louisiana's all-time No. 1 mark in the event, she will have the opportunity to further cement her legacy May 7 at her final LHSAA State Outdoor Championships at Bernie Moore Stadium.
Delta Charter junior Tayven Carter has seemingly found his groove in the triple jump. After opening the season with a couple of weeks in the 44-foot range, Carter posted the top marks in Louisiana on back-to-back days.
On Thursday, Carter jumped 48-8 at the Mangham Invitational. He followed that with a 48-5 mark at the Franklin Parish Invitational. At that meet, Carter also recorded a season-best 23-5 in the long jump, making him one to watch in the event.