Robeson's Weaver sweeps three jumping events

The distances were an afterthought.

Iyisha Weaver just wanted to pay tribute to Curtis Weaver, her late grandfather.

And did she ever do it.

Weaver won the PIAA District 12 Class AA girls' long jump, triple jump and high jump titles yesterday.

The Paul Robeson standout produced a winning leap of 17 feet, 83/4 inches in the long jump at Germantown. Shali Muhammed of Sayre finished second in 17-2. Shalaya Sidney of Robeson was third in 16-61/4.

Weaver later won her second consecutive district triple jump title in 36-111/4. She won the high jump at 5-0.

The top two finishers in each event automatically qualify for next weekend's PIAA track and field championships at Shippensburg University.

Like most state qualifiers, Weaver beamed with excitement. Shortly afterward, however, her voice cracked as she held back tears.

"My grandpop was by biggest fan," Iyisha said of Curtis, who died Friday of a heart attack. "He didn't know anything about track. But he would always call me and see how I did. Then he would brag to my family."

Initially, the 17-year-old didn't want to compete in the district meet. But her brother told her to do it for Grandpop.

Now, Weaver's goal is make her grandfather proud at the state meet.

"My goal is to place in all three events," said Weaver, who hopes to advance in the 4x100 relay this afternoon.

She wasn't the only person to dedicate a performance to a late grandparent.

Cardinal O'Hara's Jason Johnson honored Gloria James by winning the Class AAA triple jump in 46-33/4. James passed away on May 1. Johnson will miss next weekend's state meet to attend her funeral in Jamaica.

"It was a hard decision," the senior said of skipping the state meet. "It's my grandmother. So I got to go."

Germantown's Jeff Best was perhaps the happiest performer at yesterday's meet. The senior won the Class AAA long jump in 22-4. Last season, he finished third and failed to qualify for the state meet.

"This year I had to go for it," Best said.

Swenson's Mia Waring claimed three district titles, winning the Class AA shot put (32-8), discus (86-7), and javelin (90). She is the four-time shot-put champion.

The meet will resume today at 1 p.m.