RANDALLS ISLAND, New York, July 23–26 — Our coverage of the USA Outdoor Championships is divided into 4 parts: men’s track & field and women’s track & field. Event reports will be added as the meet goes along.
| Jump To Men’s Field Event Report: | ||||||||||
| High Jump | Pole Vault | Long Jump | Triple Jump | Shot | Discus | Javelin | Decathlon | |||
Long Jump — Grimes’ Surprise Title Defense
WITH NEARLY ALL of the formchart favorites far from their best form or withdrawing, the men’s long jump was left for a pair of breakthrough performers from the previous two years to top the podium.
The key 3-jump sequence came in the fourth round, following a lackluster opening three stanzas. Isaac Grimes had reached 25-9¼ (7.85) in the first sequence and that held up through 40+ more attempts by the field of 15 before the finals. Even Cordell Tinch, the U.S. co-leader at 27-2½ (8.29) jumping for the first time since March, could only manage 25-4¾ (7.74).
But then Malcolm Clemons finally got the night’s first 26-footer, at 26-2¼ (7.98). That got things going, as indoor champ Steffin McCarter nearly topped Clemons with a 26-1¾ (7.97) that elevated him to 2nd.
“I went from 1st to 3rd,” said Grimes later. “I had to pull something out, come back up on top.”
That, he did. With a 26-9¼ (8.16) that equaled his outdoor PR, he not only hit the meet’s first 8-meter jump but also reminded fans of the form he had showed in Eugene last summer.
The order didn’t change, though Clemons finished strong, improving with every fair jump to 26-5½ (8.06) and 26-5¾ (8.07), matching his stunning runner-up finish in the ’24 Olympic Trials. McCarter held off Tinch, who went 26-¾ (7.94) in the fifth before fouling his last.
But it was Grimes who closed best, improving again to 26-10 (8.18) on his final attempt to earn back-to-back titles at 28. Since Eugene (and making the Tokyo final, taking 10th), he had finished 3rd indoors, but then had a very modest ’26 outdoor season before Thursday. “I won last year; it felt special,” he said. “To win it again, it’s even more special.” /Steve Underwood/
MEN’S LONG JUMP RESULTS
(winds ranged from +2.4 to –1.8)
1. Isaac Grimes (adidas) 26-10 (8.18) =out PR
(25-9¼, 25-6¾, 19-9½, 26-9¼, 21-10, 26-10) (7.85, 7.79, 6.03, 8.16, 6.65, 8.18);
2. Malcolm Clemons (unat) 26-5¾ (8.07)
(24-5½, f, 25-6, 26-2¼, 26-5½, 26-5¾) (7.45, f, 7.77, 7.98, 8.06, 8.07);
3. Steffin McCarter (unat) 26-1¾ (7.97)
(25-7½, 25-3½, 25-0w, 26-1¾, 25-8¼, 18-8) (7.81, 7.71, 7.62w, 7.97, 7.83, 5.69);
4. Cordell Tinch (Nike) 26-¾ (7.94); 5. Will Williams (Shore) 25-9½ (7.86); 6. Kemonie Briggs (LeapSqTC) 25-9¼ (7.85); 7. DeAundre Ward (SnMs) 25-5½ (7.76); 8. Cameron Crump (unat) 25-2¾ (7.69); 9. Treyshon Malone (unat) 25-1¼ (7.65); 10. Jeremiah Davis (Puma) 24-8½ (7.53); 11. Damarcus Simpson (unat) 24-1¾ (7.36); 12. Jason Smith (unat) 23-8¼ (7.22); 13. Joshua Rivers (WiOsh) 23-4½ (7.12); 14. Kennedy Stringfellow (Ok) 22-11¾ (7.00);… 3f—Marquis Dendy (unat).
