IN THE WAKE OF Athing Mu’s fall in the 800, calls predictably arose for the U.S. to rethink its cutthroat Olympic Trials system. The women’s long jump provided the perfect rebuttal to that argument — the drama was thick and thrilling, created specifically by the looming danger of missing a trip to Tokyo.
The biggest (but not the only) drama focused on Tara Davis-Woodhall, this year’s World Indoor champion. Fouls on her first two attempts filled the stadium with tension — would the United States’s best medal hope in the event not even get a full set of jumps?
Then she hit 21-9½ (6.64). It only moved her into 5th, but it was the lifeline she needed. She released all that tension with a shudder followed by a visible look of stunned relief, and a shriek of joy. She then fully righted her ship with a fifth-round 22-11¾w (7.00), giving her the lead, the eventual gold, and a plane ticket. It was one of the rare wind-aided jumps of the evening (2.6). Her final leap was an inconsequential foul.
Jasmine Moore, already the triple jump winner, was the only athlete in the top 5 who had a calm day. Davis-Woodhall’s winning jump cost Moore a second gold, but otherwise, her 22-10¾ (6.98) easily held up for silver.
The fight for 3rd, however, was nearly as exciting as what Davis-Woodhall endured.
At the end of round 3, the silver spot was held by Monae’ Nichols; Baylor’s Lex Brown sat in 3rd and Quanesha Burks (the only one of the three with the Olympic standard) sat 4th.
Davis-Woodhall’s winner in round 5 then pushed everyone down a place, setting off a scramble in round 6.
First, Burks hit 22-3¾ (6.80), jumping her from 5th to 3rd. Brown, now in 4th, could not capitalize and stayed there. Then Nichols, now sitting in 5th, popped a 22-6¼ (6.86), not only snatching 3rd from Burks but also giving her the precise Olympic standard. It had to be especially gratifying for Nichols, who came into the meet lacking the required mark by a single centimeter.
As she often does, Davis-Woodhall shared her exuberance with other athletes, giving Brittany Brown and Gabby Thomas — still celebrating making the team in the 200 — ecstatic hugs. She’ll seek to improve on her 6th place three years ago in Tokyo.
“I don’t want to put myself or you guys in that position again,” she told the crowd after the competition ended. “I apologize. But I’m going to Paris, baby!”
WOMEN’S LONG JUMP RESULTS
FINAL (June 29; winds ranged from +2.7 to –1.6)
1. Tara Davis-Woodhall (luluNYAC) 22-11¾w (7.00)
(f, f, 21-9½, 21-11½, 22-11¾w, f)
(f, f, 6.64, 6.69, 7.00w, f);
2. Jasmine Moore (Puma) 22-10¾ (6.98)
(f, 22-5, 22-10¾, 22-4½, 22-4¼, f)
(f, 6.83, 6.98, 6.82, 6.81, f);
3. Monae’ Nichols (Puma) 22-6¼ (6.86)
(22-2½, f, 21-2½, f, f, 22-6¼) (6.77, f, 6.46, f, f, 6.86);
4. Quanesha Burks (unat) 22-3¾ (6.80)
(f, 21-10¾, 21-11½, 21-5¼w, 21-5¼, 22-3¾)
(f, 6.67, 6.69, 6.53w, 6.53, 6.80);
5. Lex Brown (Bay) 22-2½ (6.77)
(f, 21-0, 22-2½, f, 21-7½, 21-11)
(f, 6.40, 6.77, f, 6.59, 6.68);
6. Nicole Warwick (Azusa) 21-8¼ (6.61)
(21-1¼, 21-7¼, 20-8½, f, f, 21-8¼) (6.43, 6.58, 6.31, f, f, 6.61);
7. Madisen Richards (unat) 21-7½ (6.59)
(21-5½, 20-8, 21-4, 21-7½, 21-4¼w, f) (6.54, 6.30, 6.50, 6.59, 6.51w, f);
8. Tiffany Flynn (TSTBH) 21-4¾ (6.52)
(21-4¾, f, f, 20-4¼, f, 20-5¾) (6.52, f, f, 6.20, f, 6.24);
9. Morgan Smalls (LSU) 21-1¼ (6.43); 10. Claire Bryant (Fl) 21-1¼w (6.43); 11. Sydney Willits (IaSt) 21-½ (6.41); 12. Alyssa Jones (Stan) 20-9¾ (6.34).
QUALIFYING (June 27)
Qualifiers: Davis-Woodhall 22-9 (6.93); Moore 22-8½ (6.92), Nichols 22-5¾w (6.85), Burks 22-1¾ (6.75), Brown 21-8¾ (6.62), Flynn 21-8w (6.60), Richards 21-5¼ (6.53), Warwick 21-4¾ (6.52), Bryant 21-4¼ (6.51), Willits 21-3¼ (6.48), Jones 21-2w (6.45), Smalls 21-1¼ (6.43);
Non-qualifiers: Sha’keela Saunders (adidas) 21-½ (6.41), Tacoria Humphrey (Il) 20-10¾ (6.37), Sydnie Vanek (Az) 20-10½ (6.36), Sophia Beckmon (Il) 20-6¼ (6.25), Samiyah Samuels (unat) & Jasmine Todd (TS) 20-5¾ (6.24), Kiana Davis (unat) 20-4¼ (6.20), Aislinn McElhaney (Lips) 20-2¼w (6.15), Alexandra Kelly (Prin) 20-¼ (6.10), A’Liyah Thomas (Ct) 19-10¼ (6.05), Asherah Collins (UCF) 19-9¾ (6.04), Tionna Tobias (Ia) 19-8 (5.99).
