AS HE RESPONDED to questions after his 55-2 (16.81) NCAA men’s triple jump victory Friday, Brandon Green — wearing a big smile — spoke with the self-assuredness of someone who knew a door had been opened and his time was now to walk on through.
“We’ve been consistent all season,” he said as to whether or not the results surprised him even a little. “You know, all I had to do is come out and do my job.” The great thing for the Oklahoma junior was that not only did Green do his job, but senior teammate Floyd Whitaker bounded a stunning PR 53-10¼ (16.41) PR in the third round to make it a 1-2 finish for the Sooners — and 18 of their 30½ points (6th place).
Green jumped 54-5¼ (16.81) on his first attempt and never trailed in the competition. No one came within a foot of the Sooner. Thanks to a combination of his own progress this spring and the departure of the NCAA Indoor champ Missouri soph Jonathan Seremes — who decided not to compete outdoors for the Tigers and returned home to jump for his club in Paris — Green’s time was now.
When the Sooner jumped his indoor PR of 55-3½ at SEC’s, he trailed both Seremes and Kentucky junior Luke Brown. Those two conference rivals beat him again at the NCAA Indoor, but Green only managed a sub-par 54-1¾ (16.50) there. At SEC Outdoor, however, he beat Brown and then he jumped a collegiate outdoor leading 55-7 at the NCAA West Regionals. Green’s confidence was where it needed to be.
Back to Eugene, he improved to 54-11¼ (16.74) in the third round, then bounded beyond 55 feet again with his winning jump in round 6. The winds on his jumps were all legal, ranging from -1.1 to 1.6.
“It means everything,” Green said, asked how it felt topping the podium here. “It’s been a long journey, coming up short the past few years. You know, it just feels good to finally, finally do what I came to do. Succeed, execute.”
What was unexpected was Whitaker, who came to OU in 2024 after two years at Minnesota. He had his first 52-footer in taking 3rd at the ’24 Big 12 Indoor meet, then didn’t hit that level again in or out. This year, he got back in the 52s in January, was 9th at the NCAA Indoor, then 3rd in the SEC Outdoor with his first career 53-footer at 53-1½ (16.19).
In Eugene, Whitaker moved into 2nd behind Green in the second round with a 52-9½ (16.09), then exploded with the 53-10¼ in the 3rd round.
“I’m extremely excited for him,” said Green. “He’s been battling a lot, injuries, trying to get PRs, and for him to finally come out on a big stage and show up when it mattered, that means a lot. He’s headed in the right direction.”
MEN’S TRIPLE JUMP RESULTS
FINAL (June 13)
1. *Brandon Green (Ok) 55-2 (16.81)
(54-5¼, 54-4¾, 54-11¼, f, 54-8¼, 55-2) (16.59, 16.58, 16.74, f, 16.67, 16.81);
2. Floyd Whitaker (Ok) 53-10¼ (16.41) PR
(51-9, 52-9½, 53-10¼, 52-4¾, 47-¼, 52-5¼) (15.77, 16.09, 16.41, 15.97, 14.33, 15.98);
3. *Kyvon Tatham (FlSt) 53-3 (16.23)
(52-3¼, f, 53-3, 52-2¾, 51-5, f) (15.93, f, 16.23, 15.92, 15.67, f);
4. *Luke Brown’ (Ky-Jam) 53-1 (16.18)
(51-11¾, f, 53-1, f, 48-5½, 47-10) (15.84, f, 16.18, f, 14.77, 14.58);
5. ***Selva Prabhu’ (KsSt-Ind) 52-9½ (16.09)
(52-6, 51-7¾, f, 52-9½, f, 51-1½) (16.00, 15.74, f, 16.09, f, 15.58);
6. *Theo Mudzengerere’ (SC-Zim) 52-9½ (16.09)
(52-3¾, 47-6½, 52-9½, 52-½, 51-11, 52-4¾) (15.94, 14.49, 16.09, 15.86, 15.82, 15.97);
7. Safin Wills’ (Or-Jam) 52-8¾ (16.07)
(50-7½, f, 52-8¾, f, 45-9¾, 50-2) (15.43, f, 16.07, f, 13.96, 15.29);
8. **Stafon Roach’ (LaM-Guy) 52-5½ (15.99) (49-4¼, 51-5, 52-5½, 50-1¼, f, 45-1½) (15.04, 15.67, 15.99, 15.27, f, 13.75);
9. ***Abraham Johnson (EnIl) 52-4½ (15.96); 10. **Hakeem Ford (Mn) 52-1¾ (15.89); 11. Jaren Holmes (USC) 51-8¼ (15.75); 12. Alexandre Malanda’ (Kent-Fra) 51-5¾ (15.69); 13. *Ryan John (Clem) 51-4¼ (15.65); 14. Kelsey Daniel’ (Tx-Tri) 50-11½ (15.53); 15. *Jeremy Nelson (LaL) 50-8¾ (15.46); 16. Roman Kuleshov’ (Louis-Rus) 50-4½ (15.35); 17. **Xavier Partee (NCAT) 50-3¼ (15.32); 18. *Chris Preddie (TxSt) 49-10½ (15.20); 19. Ledamian Rowell (Jack) 49-8½ (15.15); 20. *Sir Jonathan Sims (Tarl) 49-5½ (15.07); 21. ***Xavier Drumgoole (Stan) 42-10¼ (13.06);… 3f—***Jaden Lippett (Fl), *Viktor Morozov’ (Il-Rus), *Anthony Woods (AlSt).
