Northern Heights’ Jacquelyne Leffler continues to prove why she is considered one of the top high school field athletes in the country, coming away with three top-10 finishes at the Golden West Invitational in Folsom, Calif., this past weekend.
The highlight of the weekend came in the shot put. Leffler, a three-time Class 3A State champion in the event, let loose on a throw of 46 feet, 8 inches, which bettered her personal best of 45-6 3/4, set at the State meet in May.
With the throw, Leffler won the event. Her mark was nearly two feet better than the runner up, Brittany Borman of Festus (Mo.) High School (44-10 1/4).
Leffler also managed a top-5 finish in the discus, recording a personal best-tying mark of 151-7, good enough to land her at fourth in the standings. Her throw put her within two feet of the champion, Kylie Spurgeon of Tulsa, Okla. (153 feet). Leffler also is a three-time State champion in the discus.
The third event for Leffler was a new one, as she participated in the hammer throw for the first time at a competitive event. Leffler still managed to come away with a seventh-place finish with a heave of 140-10.
Next up for the senior-to-be is the Finishline USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships on June 21-22 in Indianapolis, where she will participate in the shot, javelin and discus.
Should she finish as one of the top-2 placers, Leffler will qualify to represent the United States at the Pan Am Games in Brazil in July.