Penn Hills long jumper takes it ‘to another level’ with unexpected WPIAL gold

By: Josh Rizzo
Sunday, May 25, 2025 | 11:01 AM

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Ron Porter III wasn’t following a timeline that suggested he could go from promising prospect to WPIAL Class 3A long jump champion. Following the end of the football season, the Penn Hills senior didn’t have the easiest ramp-up to the spring season.

Porter pulled his hamstring during the indoor track and field season and was limited to only one meet. However, his distances gradually improved throughout the spring, and he landed on top of the podium at Slippery Rock University with a leap of 22 feet, 8.5 inches.

“I didn’t see it coming, to be honest,” Porter said. “I was jumping 21 feet last year. I never saw myself jumping 23. Whenever it’s a competition, I lock in more.”

Porter, who will play college football at Cal (Pa.) next season, is one of two Penn Hills athletes who qualified for the PIAA championship meet. Mackenzie McIntyre finished fourth in the 100- and 200-meter dashes to qualify in two events but declined to go to states because the meet conflicted with the prom.

While cold weather prevented Porter from training his jumps early in the season, his performances in big meets showed he had a chance to have a strong season. In Penn Hills’ first big invitational of the season, Porter jumped 23-1 to place second at the TSTCA Invitational at West Mifflin. At the Butler Invitational, Porter finished third by leaping 22-7 ½.

“I knew he had the potential last year,” said Lee Zelkowitz, Penn Hills’ track coach. “He took it to another level this season. He has good pop and good speed going down the runway. He has a consistent approach and has been hitting the board well.”

Despite already having a qualifying distance for the long jump, Porter built more confidence at the West Mifflin Last Chance meet. Porter finished first with a jump of 23-4.

That performance, Porter said, came because he was disappointed with not hitting the qualifying time in the 100.

“I didn’t get the time I needed,” Porter said. “I said, ‘I’m going to let it out jumping.’ Then I hit (a personal record).”

Zelkowitz was excited to see what Porter could do at the state championships at Shippensburg. Porter has demonstrated his tenacity in competition.

“He’s always competitive down to the last jump,” Zelkowitz said. “There were a couple of jumps at Butler where he barely fouled and could have won. The state competition is fierce, but he has a good chance.”

Tags: Penn Hills