Jummie Akinwunmi, Beacon High School
Akinwunmi dominated at the Red Raider Relays at North Rockland High School in Theils on April 12 and 13. In a meet attended by more than 50 teams, she placed in the top 10 in six events and won the high jump at 5 feet, 1.75 inches.
She continued her high-level performances with three wins at the Section 1 Duals against Lourdes on April 18. And on April 24 at a tri-meet with Hendrick Hudson and Peekskill she cleared 5 feet, 4 inches in the outdoor high jump, a personal best and one of the highest in the state this year. (She hit the 5-4 mark on an indoor jump on Feb. 24.)
“Jummie is an amazing person for a coach to get to work with,” said Coach Jim Henry. “She is the top-ranked student in the junior class and one of the most gifted high jumpers in New York.
“When we converse at meets during competition, we discuss launch angles, forces and center of gravity as easily as if we were in physics class,” he said. “Often, jumpers from other teams will overhear little bits of our discussions and look at us kind of funny.”
