Marana senior Jaelen Collins, who is bound for NAU on a football scholarship as a receiver, completed his high school track and field career with the Tigers with a long jump championship in the AIA Divison I meet on May 4.
Collins’ long jump of 23 feet, 5.25 inches earned him the championship, Marana’s first in five years in the event.
A week later on May 11, Collins achieved a personal-best long jump of 23-6 in the state meet. He was second tied with Perry’s Jaymis Brown, finishing behind Paradise Valley’s Nathan Williams (23-9).
Collins also placed second in the triple jump in the Division I meet with a personal-best mark of 47-5.5.
For his performance in the division and state meets in the month of May, Collins is the Jet Sports Training Male Athlete of the Month.
2024 MALE ATHLETE OF THE MONTH HONORS
January 2024: Sunnyside soccer player Angel Bracamontes-Pulido
February 2024: Salpointe soccer player Leo Gutierrez
March 2024: Sunnyside baseball player Orlando Cobarrubias
April 2024: Bisbee baseball player Bryceton Meyer
May 2024: Marana track and field athlete Jaelen Collins
FOLLOW @JAVIERJMORALES ON TWITTER!
ALLSPORTSTUCSON.com publisher, writer and editor Javier Morales is a former Arizona Press Club award winner. He is a former Arizona Daily Star beat reporter for the Arizona basketball team, including when the Wildcats won the 1996-97 NCAA title. He has also written articles for CollegeAD.com, Bleacher Report, Lindy’s Sports, TucsonCitizen.com, The Arizona Republic, Sporting News and Baseball America, among many other publications. He has also authored the book “The Highest Form of Living”, which is available at Amazon. He became an educator five years ago and is presently a special education teacher at Gallego Fine Arts Intermediate in the Sunnyside Unified School District.
Recommended for you
