THIS WAS ONE OF the meet’s most predictable events. Until it wasn’t.
Two names clearly stood out: Illinois junior Sophia Beckmon, the indoor winner and a consistent 22-foot-plus jumper; and Stanford senior Alyssa Jones, 2nd at the ’25 outdoor and ’26 indoor meets. Jones’ 23-3¼ (7.09) at her Regional placed her second on the all-time collegiate list.
No other entrant had ever exceeded 22 feet with a wind-legal jump.
In a topsy-turvy competition wherein 4 of the top 6 finishers recorded PRs, Jones was the clear standout. On her first attempt, she pumped her arms powerfully on her fast approach, hit the board squarely and leapt 23-2 (7.06) with an 0.2 wind, breaking Shelia Echols’ ancient meet record from ’87 by 4¾ inches (12cm).
Seemingly assured of the win, Jones followed with three fouls, then a 23-½ (7.02) and a relaxed 21-11¾ (6.70), cementing her position as one of history’s best-ever collegiate long jumpers.
Behind her, Clemson senior Shantae Foreman moved to 2nd in round 2 with a PR (by 7½ inches) 21-11½ (6.69). Foreman, surprisingly, held that position to the end.
Alabama senior Caelyn Harris had never previously jumped longer than 21-2½ (6.46), but her fourth-round 21-10 (6.65) sufficed to secure her 3rd.
Maeva Tahou (Charleston Southern) and Trinity Shadd-Ceres (Creighton) produced PRs of 21-6¼ (6.56) and 21-4¾ (6.52) to finish 5th and 6th.
And then there was Beckmon, who endured one of those dreaded “bad days.” Fighting approach and rhythm issues, she continued to overstep the board, and her safe jumps were not good enough. Her best, a first-attempt 21-6¾ (6.57), was good for only 4th for the disappointed Oregon native.
Jones now justifiably joins Tara Davis-Woodhall, Jasmine Moore and few others in the ranks of current world-class US jumpers.
Afterward, she reflected on her career, “I felt really good. This is probably the best year I’ve had, body-wise. My ankle wasn’t bad, my knees were finally not creaky. My coaches and I talked about it, and they were like, ‘Start off with a banger; start with a message and then go out there and finish it.’ I had a couple of big goals: I really wanted to get that Collegiate Record [7.14], but I’m happy with the win. It’s been a long 4 years, been here multiple times, and I’ve never gotten first before. I’m just thankful and grateful for the win.”
WOMEN’S LONG JUMP RESULTS
(June 11; winds ranged from +2.7 to –0.6)
1. Alyssa Jones (Stan) 23-2 (7.06) (x, 4 C) (MR)
(23-2, f, f, f, 23-½ [x, 7 C], 21-11¾) (7.06, f, f, f, 7.02, 6.70);
2. Shantae Foreman’ (Clem-Jam) 21-11½ (6.69) PR
(20-4½, 21-11½, f, 21-6¾, f, 21-6) (6.21, 6.69, f, 6.57, f, 6.55);
3. Caelyn Harris (Al) 21-10 (6.65) PR
(f, f, 21-8, 21-10, f, 21-8) (f, f, 6.60, 6.65, f, 6.60);
4. *Sophia Beckmon (Il) 21-6¾ (6.57)
(21-6¾, 20-9, f, f, 21-1¼, f) (6.57, 6.32, f, f, 6.43, f);
5. **Maeva Tahou’ (ChSn-Swi) 21-6¼ (6.56) PR
(21-1¼, 21-1¼, 21-6¼, f, 20-11¾, 21-4¾) (6.43, 6.43, 6.56, f, 6.39, 6.52);
6. ***Trinity Shadd-Ceres’ (Creigh-Can) 21-4¾ (6.52) PR
(21-2½, 20-8, 21-4¾, 19-9¾, f, p) (6.46, 6.30, 6.52, 6.04, f, p);
7. *Morgan Davis (TxAM) 21-4¾ (6.52)
(f, 21-4¾, f, f, 19-11¾, 20-2¼) (f, 6.52, f, f, 6.09, 6.15);
8. Aaliyah Lindsay’ (KsSt-Jam) 21-1½ (6.44)
(20-1¾, 20-1¾, 21-1½, 20-8, 20-9¾, 14-4½) (6.14, 6.14, 6.44, 6.30, 6.34, 4.38);
9. *Katharina Graman’ (Il-Swe) 21-1½ (6.44); 10. ***Tristen Harris (SC) 21-1¼ (6.43); 11. **Prestina Ochonogor’ (Tarl-Ngr) 21-0 (6.40); 12. **Janae De Gannes’ (Bay-Tri) 20-11¾ (6.39); 13. **Amare Harlan (Mi) 20-10¾ (6.37) =PR; 14. *Elizabeth Ndudi’ (Il-Ire) 20-10 (6.35); 15. *Ida Breigan’ (UTSA-Nor) 20-9¾ (6.34); 16. **Sydnie Vanek (Az) 20-8½ (6.31); 17. Alexandra Kelly (Prin) 20-5¾w (6.24); 18. Georgina Scoot’ (Prin-GB) 20-2¼ (6.15); 19. Paige Floriea (Rut) 19-11½ (6.08); 20. Sydney Willits (IaSt) 19-11½; 21. Peace Omonzane’ (BU-Can) 19-5¼ (5.92); 22. **Lena Gooden (Vand) 19-5¼; 23. *Mariia Horielova’ (Al-Ukr) 19-3½ (5.88);… 3f—Eve Divinity (Louis).
