Mount Alvernia’s Foster sets sights on 6.50m in long jump

FRANKLIN FIELD, Philadelphia

MOUNT Alvernia High School’s Aaliyah Foster is aiming to make a big impact when she competes in the high school girls’ long jump at the 127th staging of the Penn Relays today.

Foster, the ISSA-GraceKennedy Boys and Girls’ Athletics Championships (Champs) Class One winner, will be competing at the prestigious relays for the first time and she wants to get past 6.50 metres in the event.

“This is my first time competing at Penns and I want to do something special as the aim is to go over 6.50 metres,” said Foster who won the event at Champs with a wind aided 6.33 metres.

“I am really elated to be here and once I remain healthy I will produce something special,” she stated .

Foster has played second fiddle to St Jago High’s Jade Ann Dawkins this season, but she will not have Dawkins to contend with at Penns. Dawkins has chosen to compete in the triple jump at Penns as both events will take place at the same time.

“I am going to miss the rivalry between myself and Jade Ann as she always forced me to do my best, but this will not change as I know many college scouts will be at Penns and if you want to move to the next level you have to do something special and I am ready for that,” Foster added.

Foster is the second seed in the event behind defending champion Avery Lewis of Friend Central High in Philadelphia. Lewis used her final attempt last year to defeat Edwin Allen High’s Serena Cole with a winning mark of 6.05m to Cole’s 5.98m.

It will also be new territory for Foster as far as the weather is concerned as she can expect cool temperatures in Philadelphia.

“I will have to stay warm throughout the event. If I sit down for long I get cold quickly so I will just have to stay busy by moving up and down to stay warm during the event,” said Foster.