The annual LEAP Fest jumps-only meet brings together jumpers from youth to professional. (File)
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Nothing bridges the transition from cross country to track and field season quite like the annual LEAP Fest jumps-only all-comers meet. The 2020 version will be held Saturday at Santa Ana Mater Dei High School with the focus on long jump, triple jump, high jump and pole vault.
The all-comers meet serves as an early-season showcase for jumpers from youth to high school, college to professionals and is coordinated by Mater Dei (SS) jumps coach Keinan Briggs.
Last year's event attracted more than half a dozen high school athletes who would go on to qualify for the CIF-State Meet.
That list included Moorpark's Victoria Plummer, who placed third at State in the high jump, Oceanside's John Gibbs, a State Meet triple jump finalist, Gardena's Serra's A'Lena Chaney, a State long jump finalist, and Marina's Skyler Magula, a State pole vault finalist. Last year's LEAP Fest also included Orange Lutheran's Sophia Hartwell, a Southern Section Masters Meet qualifier in both horizontal jumps.
This year's turnout is expected to be even deeper and include the likes of returning high school standouts Hartwell and Gibbs.
Here are a more details on Saturday's event:
RELATED
- Past LEAP Fest Results: 2019 - 2018
- LEAP Fest Event Page
The vertical jumps starting time will shift depended on entries as this year there is much more interest.
Tentative Competition Schedule
| Time | Pit 1 East Pit | Pit 2 West Pit | High Jump | Pole Vault |
| 8:00am | Arrival and Check-in | |||
| 8:30 | Pits open for run-thrus | |||
| 9:00 | Youth Long | Youth Long | ||
| 9:45 | HS Long | Youth Long | ||
| 10:30 | College/Open/Pro Long | Youth Long | Youth | HS/Open |
| 11:15 | HS Long | HS Long | HS/Open | HS/Open |
| 12:00pm | College/Open/Pro Triple | HS Long | HS/Open | HS/Open |
| 12:45 | HS Long | HS Long | ||
| 1:30 | HS Triple | HS Long | ||
| 2:15 | HS Triple | HS Triple | ||
Event Requirements: (To ensure the safety of all competitors)
- Long Jump: All ages and levels are welcome to compete
- Triple Jump: Must be 13 years or older or will be in the USATF 13-14 age division for the 2020 athletic season.
- High Jump: Must be 9 years or older or will be in the USATF 9-10 age division for the 2020 athletic season.
- Pole Vault: Must have previous experience in the event. Must be 13 years or older or will be in the USATF 13-14 age division for the 2020 athletic season. Poles must pass the USATF inspection to compete. Poles will not be provided.