2022 WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPION Jaydon Hibbert has emerged as one of the season’s brightest young stars, first with a U20 and Collegiate Record 57-6½ (17.54) at the NCAA Indoor, then with a demolition of both marks via his 58-7½ (17.87) effort at the SEC. The 18-year-old Arkansas frosh arrived in Austin with a more than 2-foot advantage over his nearest competitor, and anticipation was high for his next performance.
The entry list included other well-qualified jumpers. Miami junior Russell Robinson surpassed 56ft in April, and Sean Dixon-Bodie (Florida), Apalos Edwards (LSU), Salif Mane (Fairleigh Dickinson) and Jeremiah Davis (Florida State) were all over 55 (16.76).
Prior to this meet, Hibbert had taken a total of only 9 jumps in 6 collegiate competitions in ’23. The question was, could anyone compel a more urgent series on his part?
The safe answer was, “Not really.”
Eight jumpers along in the order after Robinson had opened the proceedings with a 54-7½ (16.65), Hibbert took his stance on the runway nearest to the spectators. He encouraged rhythmic clapping, sped off with several exaggerated arm swings on a relatively short approach, exhibited terrific leg lift on his final phase, and flowed smoothly into the pit, 57-7½ (17.56) from the board. The mark was only 1cm short of the 41-year-old meet record.
In round 2, the young Jamaican bounced out to 57-¼ (17.38), and in the third frame he fouled, appearing to be in some discomfort after his landing. Meanwhile, Robinson, wearing a backwards baseball cap, improved to 55-7 (16.94), his best for the night and enough to net him the runner-up spot.
Beginning the final three attempts, the order behind the top 2 was Dixon-Bodie, Davis, Owayne Owens (Virginia) and Mane. Hibbert slowed before reaching the board on his fourth attempt, clearly favoring his right ankle as he consulted with his coach, and wisely passed his remaining jumps.
In the last two rounds, Mane passed Owens for 5th with a 54-0 (16.46), and Davis claimed 3rd by 2¼ inches (6cm) from Dixon-Bodie’s 54-6 (16.61) best. But the latter’s 5 points would prove vital in the team standings, as would the inability of two additional Arkansas triple jumpers (11th and 12th) to score.
Hibbert was satisfied with his efforts. “I’m really happy,” he said. “I haven’t performed in front of a crowd like this one here at the National Championships. I came out injury-free, and I went with the crowd.”
MEN’S TRIPLE JUMP RESULTS
(June 09)
(winds ranged from +2.0 to –0.3)
1. ***Jaydon Hibbert’ (Ar-Jam) 57-7½ (17.56) (x, 3 C; 2, 2 NCAA) (lo-alt MR)
(57-7½, 57-¼ [x, 9 C; x, 6 NCAA] , f, f, p, p) (17.56, 17.38, f, f, p, p);
2. *Russell Robinson (Mia) 55-7 (16.94)
(54-7½, 53-9¾, 55-7, f, 54-4½, 54-1) (16.65, 16.40, 16.94, f, 16.57, 16.48);
3. Jeremiah Davis (FlSt) 54-8¼ (16.67)
(f, 54-4, f, f, p, 54-8¼) (f, 16.56, f, f, p, 16.67);
4. *Sean Dixon-Bodie (Fl) 54-6 (16.61)
(54-4¾, 54-6, 53-5, 52-2½, 53-9¾, 53-5¾) (16.58, 16.61, 16.28, 15.91, 16.40, 16.30);
5. Salif Mane (FD) 54-0 (16.46)
(f, f, 53-1¾, 53-7¾, 54-0, f) (f, f, 16.20, 16.35, 16.46, f);
6. Owayne Owens’ (Va-Jam) 53-8¼ (16.36)
(f, 53-7¾, f, f, 53-8¼, 53-¼) (f, 16.35, f, f, 16.36, 16.16);
7. Malik Cunningham’ (Vill-Jam) 53-¾ (16.17) PR
(f, 51-9¼, 53-¾, f, f, f) (f, 15.78, 16.17, f, f, f);
8. *Astley Davis’ (SnUt-Jam) 53-¾ (16.17) PR
(f, 51-9, 53-¾, f, p, f) (f, 15.77, 16.17, f, p, f);
9. **Praise Aniamaka’ (Pur-Can) 52-10 (16.10) PR; 10. ***Brandon Green (Ok) 52-8¼ (16.06) PR; 11. Carey Mcleod’ (Ar-Jam) 52-5½ (15.99); 12. Ryan Brown’ (Ar-Jam) 52-1¾ (15.89); 13. James Carter (Ia) 51-5¾ (15.69); 14. Jamar Davis (NCSt) 51-4¼ (15.65); 15. **Garison Breeding (Tn) 51-¾ (15.56) PR; 16. Chadrick Williams (TxSn) 50-10¾ (15.51); 17. Keyshawn King (TxT) 50-4½ (15.35); 18. ***Theophilus Mudzengerere’ (TCU-Zim) 50-3¼ (15.32); 19. Kelvin Campbell (KennSt) 49-¼ (14.94); 20. Jalyn Jackson (UCLA) 48-11¾ (14.93);… 3f—Bobby Say (EnWa), *Allam Bushara (CoSt);… dnc—*Apalos Edwards’ (LSU-Jam), *Clarence Foote-Talley (OhSt).
(best-ever mark-for-NCAA-place: lo-alt 1)