Jack Reichenbach wasn’t just Salisbury’s top jumper last year. He was one of the top jumpers in the entire state.

While Reichenbach has since graduated and is now having a stellar track and field season at the University of Rhode Island, the jump events figure to be a strong point for Salisbury in 2019 once again.

The Falcons bring back a number of jumpers on both the boys and girls teams this spring.

Reichenbach will be tough to replace with just one person. He won both the long jump and high jump events last season at leagues and districts, and then finished in the top four at states in both.

But there are some promising returnees. Senior Delano McKenzie placed fourth at last year’s Colonial League meet in the long jump with a mark of 21-4 3/4. He returns to lead this group of Falcon jumpers.

McKenzie is also one of the Falcons’ top sprinters. He placed fourth in 100-meter dash (11.58 seconds) at leagues last year.

“The team has a solid core in the jumps for both males and females,” head coach Victor DeOliveira said. “Male distance should be a strength. We have good numbers in the sprints and are hopeful new participants will step up.”

The girls’ side has a bit more depth in the jumps. Senior Erica Holben leads the way after placing fifth in both the high jump (4-10) and long jump (16-3 1/4) at last year’s district meet. She finished in a tie for third in the high jump at the Colonial League meet.

Sophomore Melena Koutch, who placed ninth in her two jump events at leagues, impressed everyone at districts the following week.

Koutch took second in the triple jump (35-1) and placed third in the high jump (5-0). She finished 28th in the triple jump at states.

“Our numbers are a bit higher than last year, which will help us field more events,” DeOliveria said. “As in the past, we do our best during the season in preparation for the postseason.”

Another strength for Salisbury figures to be the boys’ distance runners. Juniors Shane Artis and Michael Sosnowski, who placed second and third, respectively, in the 1600-meter run at districts, return this spring.

Artis also placed sixth in the 1600-meter run (4:36.04) at leagues, while finishing 16th in the 800-meter run (2:09.20).

Sosnowski ran the 1600-meter run in 4:46.25 at leagues as well.

“Our girls distance numbers are low,” DeOliveria said. “While we have very good numbers in the pole vault, we only have a few participants with any experience.”

Junior Timmy Buda is another returner on the boys’ side that DeOliveria expects to have a solid season. He finished fourth at districts in the 200-meter dash in 23.06 seconds.

On the girls’ side, senior Madison Jewell is back after placing fifth at leagues and seventh at districts in the pole vault event.

Salisbury opened the season on Tuesday with a home tri-meet with Pen Argyl and Notre Dame (Green Pond). Results were not available at time of press.