#8 - The Triple Jump Tie-Breaker In The Pits
In 2019, we ranked the Triple Jump State Meet Competition as our top moment of the year. In our description, we noted that the top two athletes in that incredible field would be back again in 2020 to duke it out. While the battle may not have produced the same record-breaking results we saw the year before, it still came down to the wire in one of the fiercest battles on display at Ocean Breeze.
The year before, Alissa Braxton (Commack) shattered the State Record at Ocean Breeze, and dethroned the reigning State Champ in Nadia Saunders (North Rockland). Not to say Saunders had an off year. Both girls, by the end of their Spring Seasons, had broken 41-feet, with Braxton over 42-0. Coming into 2020, Braxton was NY #1 All-Time in the Triple Jump, with Saunders having put out some big jumps Outdoors. The race to 42-feet, and another State Title was set.
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Braxton's season started out strong early. On December 7th, she opened up with a 40-1.5 clearance to win her debut meet. She would have three more 40-foot jumps at Suffolk Community College before returning to the Ocean Breeze Invitational, her first jump of the Season at the facility that housed her State Record. Once again, at OB, Braxton unleashed a major attempt, hitting 41-2.5, to set the National Lead at the time. A big jump would have to wait until State Quals. That's when the magic happened again. Hitting every phase with emphasis, Braxton put out a new PR, 41-10, which would also improve her prior State Record by half an inch. She was ready to head to the State Meet.
Meanwhile, Saunders was having a big season of her own. A much more delayed start than Braxton, Saunders didn't hit the Triple Jump runway until January 4th, a full month into the Season. But the wait was worth it. Jumping, and winning, at the Ocean Breeze Invite, Saunders debuted at 41-0, a new Indoor Best, and NY #5 All-Time. The State was on notice. She came back and hit 40-3.25 at Sectionals, then went on to win the Millrose Games over Braxton at 40-7. With plenty of confidence to come back and try to regain her title, Saunders won her State Qualifier in a relaxed mark of 38-9.5, and the stage was set.
The pair headed into States as the top two seeds. On Saunders first attempt, she set the standard, pushing out a 40-4.5 jump. Braxton, trying to match, pushed out a strong mark, but came down with a foul. The chase was one. Both girls would exchange jumps through the trials, Braxton landing a best of 39-10 to close out the series, while Saunders put out two more jumps at 39feet as well, holding onto the lead her her first attempt. Into the finals, Saunders would now be jumping last.
Braxton's first attempt in the finals extended her best on the day by half an inch, but it still wasn't enough to catch the lead. Saunders looked to extend, but came down with a foul. With two attempts left, Braxton let loose. Her best attempt of the day, she waited as the measuring tape came out. The official read off 40-4, just a half inch under the lead. The pressure was on. Saunders answered back, and measured the exact same distance as her opening jump, 40-4.5, still a half inch out of reach. With one final attempt each, the pressure was at a fever pitch. Off Braxton went down the runway, with a little too much speed, and out came the call. "Foul." Saunders had done it. She reclaimed the State Title in the closest Triple Jump competition in State History. She bounded down the runway as well, ultimately resulting in a foul, but the result was done.
The friendly rivalry was set to be settled Outdoors. As it stood, Saunders had two Triple Jump State Titles, as did Braxton. The tie-breaker would come in the Spring. However, the unexpected happened, and the Season became no more. However, with two of the best jumpers in history coming in the same season, it was only fitting to end the matchup in a draw.