Earlier this year, we warned the State to watch out for Salif Mane (Taft). Mane had hit one of the best December marks of All-Time when he opened his senior season in 49-1.5 on December 7th. But since that mark, there was a lull.
There were plenty of wins. Mane took top three in every triple jump outing he partook this season, and Top 5 for the Long Jump. For many of those, the mark was hovering around 47-feet, solid in any other year, but behind the leaders in what may be our strongest year ever in the jumps. And then came "Cities."
After a PR in the Long Jump to take third, the Triple was on the docket. On his first attempt, Mane cleared the PSAL Record, and became just the 8th athlete ever from NY to crest 50-00 indoors. The previous record dated back to 1982, set by Dima Piterman of South Shore, right at 49-9. This mark was actually set during Spring Track in 1982, but terrible weather forced the Outdoor State Meet Indoors for the field events.
But Mane wasn't done. Passing on his next two efforts (he had already qualified for the final), Mane let loose a 48-11.5 to start the next round. It didn't improve his best, and there was more in the tank. On his third jump, it was off to the record books, as Mane unleashed a new Personal Best of 50-8.5.
That's now the second best mark ever jumped by a New Yorker Indoors. Only Ronel Forde (Shaker) is ahead of him, after his freak jump of 51-6 to win the Eastern State Champs back in 2016. Forde has not broken 50-feet since, but Mane still has his eyes on that Record. And with a record breaking year (the girls Triple Record went down, while we had a 25-foot mark in the Boys Long), anything can happen.