
Keturah Orji came to Eugene to earn some historic triple jump honors.
Not to battle hailstones.
After earlier winning the long jump, the Georgia senior succeeded at both, earning the title despite her shortest winning jump in more than a year, 46-¾ (14.04). “I only took three jumps; I didn’t like the hail,” she explained with a laugh. Her first was a foul, followed by the winner. “My first jump could have been really long; it was way good!” she said. Her only other attempt was a fourth-round 46-½ (14.03), and she passed three times.
The rain was coming down throughout the event, from light to downpour. Obviously, it didn’t help anyone. “I hoped I could challenge her,” offered Yanis David, “I’ve been second all year. Overall, it was a good day for me.” The Florida junior opened at 42-4 (12.90) and improved on every attempt (except a hail-induced pass on #5) to a runner-up 45-9¼ (13.95). “The rain didn’t really bother me,” she explained. “We’ve practiced in it; it was the hail.”
Like Orji, Kentucky junior Marie-Josée Ebwea-Bile popped her best of 44-9¾ (13.66) on her second attempt, after UCLA senior Jessie Maduka had opened at 44-9½ (13.65). Trying to catch the ’17 runner-up, Maduka would take all 6 jumps, even in the blinding rain. Her last was also 13.65, which gave her 4th behind E-B.
Orji’s double horizontal win was the first since Florida State’s Kim Williams turned the trick back in ’09. She also became the event’s first 4-time winner, and with 3 Indoor titles to her credit claimed a record 7 overall.
NCAA WOMEN’S TRIPLE JUMP RESULTS
(June 09)
(winds ranged from +3.3 to –1.9)
1. Keturah Orji (Ga) 46-¾ (14.04) (x, =7 NCAA)
(f, 46-¾, p, 46-½ [x, 9 NCAA], p, p) (f, 14.04, p, 14.03, p, p);
2. *Yanis David’ (Fl) 45-9¼w (13.95)
(42-4, 44-½w, 44-11½w, 45-1½, p, 45-9¼w) (12.90, 13.42w, 13.70w, 13.75, p, 13.95w);
3. *Marie-Josée Ebwea-Bile’ (Ky) 44-9¾ (13.66)
(44-3½, 44-9¾, 41-9¾, f, p, 43-8½w) (13.50, 13.66, 12.74, f, p, 13.32w);
4. Jessie Maduka’ (UCLA) 44-9½ (13.65) PR
(44-9½, 43-10¾, 44-3¼, f, 43-9¼, 44-9½) (13.65, 13.38, 13.49, f, 13.34, 13.65);
5. **Eszter Bajnok’ (VaT) 44-½w (13.42)
(42-5¼w, 43-5¼w, 44-½w, f, 42-10¼, 42-10¾w) (12.93w, 13.24w, 13.42w, f, 13.06, 13.07w);
6. Jahisha Thomas’ (Ia) 43-11¼ (13.39)
(42-5¼, 43-11¼, p, f, f, f) (12.93, 13.39, p, f, f, f);
7. *Jehvania Whyte’ (NnIl) 43-10w (13.36)
(43-10w, f, f, 40-10¼, f, 41-8¾w) (13.36w, f, f, 12.45, f, 12.72w);
8. Darrielle McQueen (Fl) 43-8w (13.31)
(43-2¼w, 41-9¼w, 43-8w, 41-10½, 42-4¼, 42-6¼w) (13.16w, 12.73w, 13.31w, 12.76, 12.91, 12.96w);
9. *Kelly McKee (Va) 43-5w (13.23)
(43-3¼w, 42-2, 43-5w, 41-5¼, 42-4¾, f) (13.19w, 12.85, 13.23w, 12.63, 12.92, f);
10. *Chaquinn Cook (Or) 43-4¼ (13.21);
11. **Lajarvia Brown (TxAM) 43-3¼ (13.19);
12. Cidaea’ Woods (Tn) 43-1¾ (13.15);
13. Jhoanmy Luque’ (IaSt) 42-11¾ (13.10);
14. **Ciynamon Stevenson (TxAM) 42-8¾ (13.02);
15. *Ja’la Henderson (Wy) 42-8¼w (13.01);
16. Sabina Allen’ (Campb) 42-7½ (12.99);
17. **Michelle Fokam (Rice) 42-6¾w (12.97);
18. *Shardia Lawrence’ (KsSt) 42-5¼ (12.93);
19. **Konstantina Romaiou’ (KsSt) 42-4¼w (12.91);
20. ***Jaimie Robinson (Al) 42-2¾w (12.87);
21. Ashley Anderson (Cal) 42-2¼ (12.86);
22. **Simi Fajemisin’ (Harv) 41-1 (12.52);
23. *Tamara Moncrieffe’ (Al) 40-11¾ (12.49) □.