Foster Breaks NJ TJ Record On Last Jump To Win At Nike


Greg Foster was in third-place when he prepared to take his final attempt in the triple jump at Friday's Nike National Championships at Ocean Breeze on Staten Island.

The senior at Lawrenceville needed the greatest performance of his life to rally for the championship, and he delivered in epic fashion with the greatest triple jump in New Jersey indoor history!!!      

Foster, who is headed to Princeton University, soared 49-9.25 on his six and final attempt to smash the state record and rally for a breathtaking upset victory. Timber Creek's Jaden Johnson, who win the NJ Meet of Champions last week, finished fourth with a persona best 46-11.75. 

Foster's 49-9.25, which shattered the NJ record of 49-7.50 that Jonathan Pitt of South Brunswick set to finish first at the 2013 Varsity Classic, overtook US Leader Brandon Green of Ruston High School in Louisiana, who would up second with a 49-0.75. Green, a senior, owns the No. 1 jump in the nation with a 51-6.   

Foster joins Mark Juntunen of Mount Olive as the only NJ boys to win an indoor national title in the TJ. Juntunen won the title at the first National Scholastic Indoor Championships in 1984 at Jadwin Gym.

Prior to Foster's clutch 49-9.25, which is tied for US No 5 this season and a nearly a foot further than his previous PR of 48-9.50, he was in third-place with a 47-7.25.

Foster, who earlier in the meet qualified for Saturday's 60m hurdle final by running 8.06 in the prelims, is scheduled to compete in six events over the next two days. He's also entered in the long jump at the Nike Nationals, and in the triple jump, long jump, and hurdles at the New Balance Nationals at the NY Armory.