Keturah Orji makes first jump count 

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

RESULTS

Keturah Orji used Wednesday's New Jersey Metropolitan Invitational as a training exercise, primarily, but still jumped a US#1 42-1.50 and a New Jersey state record using only a 10-step approach. 

It remains to be seen what Orji, the World Youth bronze medalist in the triple jump, can do with full use of the runway. But she will return to The Armory on Monday for the Varsity Classic. 

Will she take a full appraoch then?

"I don't know yet," Orji said. 

In the meantime, the Mount Olive senior is attempting to perfect her body position and fine-tune the consistency of where she takes off on the board. Despite not starting the event until her sophomore year -- and flying 39 feet in her first meet -- she has become a serious student of the event. 

Her first attempt may have been the longest but all six of her attempts would have been good enough to claim US#1 for the indoor season. 

Meanwhile, Warwick Valley NY's Todd Uckermark pushed the pole vault bar up to 17 feet, 2 inches as he took his first three attempts at a new New York state record in that event. His first attempt showed that he is close to making the bar, but he is still sorting out the right combination of standards placement and pole size. Uckermark use the biggest pole in his arsenal only on his final attempt and said it "stood him up" too quickly.

"I just need the right jump on the right day and all I need is a little luck," Uckermark said. 

Uckermark plans to take his next shot on Monday at the Varsity Classic.