BEFORE THE TRIPLE JUMP even started Salif Mane, just No. 8 on the formchart, felt it. “I knew I was gonna have a big jump coming in because I was just warming up, and it felt like my body was just in a good mode.”
Sometimes feelings don’t lie, and they were true to the Fairleigh Dickinson senior. Jumping fifth in the second flight, just three jumpers after Florida State’s Jeremiah Davis had gotten out to 54-6½ (16.62), the 22-year-old from the Bronx stepped on the runway for his first attempt. He ran and bounced his way to a 56-2¾ (17.14), destroying his old best of 55-1 (16.79) that he had set at altitude in placing 2nd in the ’23 NCAA Indoor.
On the next jump, it was Miami’s Russell Robinson, this year’s Indoor champion, responding with a 55-7 (16.94) to take over the second position. Then in round 2, Mane followed up with his own 55-7 and Russell got even closer with a 56-1 (17.09). Neither improved in round 3, but Oklahoma’s Brandon Green jumped to 3rd with his 54-6¾ (16.63).
Reshuffled for the finals, none of the athletes were able to come up with a best in round 4 except for Purdue junior Praise Aniamaka, who went to 6th at 53-5¾ (16.30) behind Kentucky frosh Luke Brown, who had jumped 53-11¼ (16.44) earlier for 5th.
In round 5 came Mane’s biggest scare. Robinson jumped 56-2½ (17.13), just a centimeter short of the lead. Perhaps that caught Mane off guard; he then passed. Then in round 5, Robinson threw everything into a last-ditch effort, only to see the red flag fly up. Mane closed with a 55-3¾ (16.86) before celebrating.
“I’ve been struggling all season,” admitted Mane, “but being able to come out here, I moved back my run approach and it feels good to come down with a lot of speed. And just going through the motion with the jump, seeing 17.14, it’s just great. I’m very thankful.”
He added, “This was my last chance to be a national champ. I’m a senior so I was going after this, When I just came out there and executed all my phases, it was a big jump for me. I think all my phases were perfect except for my last phase. That’s something I have to work on.”
Only twice previously in meet history had the champion prevailed by a slender ¼-inch.
Mane is Fairleigh Dickinson’s first national champion since Franklin Jacobs won the high jump in ’78 and the second athlete from his conference, the NEC, to win a title after Maryland-Baltimore County putter Cleopatra Borel in ’02.
MEN’S TRIPLE JUMP RESULTS
(June 07)
1. Salif Mane (FD) 56-2¾ (17.14) PR
(56-2¾, 55-7, 55-1, 54-1¾, p, 55-3¾) (17.14, 16.94, 16.79, 16.50, p, 16.86);
2. Russell Robinson (Mia) 56-2½ (17.13) PR
(55-7, 56-1, 53-10¼, 54-10¾, 56-2½, f) (16.94, 17.09, 16.41, 16.73, 17.13, f);
3. **Brandon Green (Ok) 54-6¾ (16.63)
(54-4¾, f, 54-6¾, 53-3¾, 53-10½, 53-0) (16.58, f, 16.63, 16.25, 16.42, 16.15);
4. Jeremiah Davis (FlSt) 54-6½ (16.62)
(54-6½, f, 53-2¾, f, 49-3¾, f) (16.62, f, 16.22, f, 15.03, f);
5. ***Luke Brown’ (Ky-Jam) 53-11¼ (16.44)
(53-6¼, 53-1, 53-11¼, f, 52-10, 52-3¼) (16.31, 16.18, 16.44, f, 16.10, 15.93);
6. *Praise Aniamaka’ (Pur-Can) 53-5¾ (16.30)
(51-10½, 53-2¼, f, 53-5¾, f, 52-10) (15.81, 16.21, f, 16.30, f, 16.10);
7. **Kyvon Tatham (FlSt) 53-5¾ (16.30) PR
(53-5¾, f, 50-7¼, 45-10, p, 50-11) (16.30, f, 15.42, 13.97, p, 15.52);
8. Sean Dixon-Bodie (Fl) 53-5 (16.28)
(51-5, 52-8¼, 53-5, f, 50-9½, 50-3¼) (15.67, 16.06, 16.28, f, 15.48, 15.32);
9. Terrol Wilson’ (Nb-Jam) 53-2¼ (16.21)
(f, 52-4, 53-2¼, f, f, 51-9¾) (f, 15.95, 16.21, f, f, 15.79);
10. Micaylon Moore (Nb) 52-10¾ (16.12); 11. David Ajama (Hous) 52-8¼ (16.06); 12. *Jemuel Miller’ (UTSA-Bar) 52-6¾ (16.02); 13. **Viktor Morozov’ (Il-Est) 52-3¾ (15.94); 14. ***Sterling Scott (Mo) 51-10 (15.80) PR; 15. *Malachi Aiken (MdES) 51-4½ (15.66); 16. ***Chidozie Kalu’ (VaT-Ngr) 51-1 (15.57); 17. *Safin Wills’ (Pur-Jam) 50-10¼ (15.50); 18. *Iangelo Atkinstall-Daley’ (Ms-Jam) 50-8 (15.44); 19. *Stacy Brown (TxT) 50-5½ (15.38); 20. *Garison Breeding (TxT) 50-1¾ (15.28); 21. **Jeremy Nelson (LaL) 50-½ (15.25); 22. **Gavin Champ (USC) 49-3½ (15.02); 23. **Sir Jonathan Sims (Az) 49-1½ (14.97);
… 3f—*Kelsey Daniel’ (Tx-Tri).
