NOT SINCE 2015 had Keturah Orji failed to win this meet, and NCAA champ Jasmine Moore had been accorded the favorite’s role, but neither of them emerged as the champion.
Instead, Tori Franklin never trailed at the end of any round as she finally got an outdoor crown to go with her 3 undercover wins.
The 30-year-old Michigan State alum was the last of the field of 16 to enter the fray. Orji, No. 9 in the jumping order, was in the lead, having spanned 46-11¾ (14.32). Franklin matched that.
In the second round, Orji fouled and Franklin took a solo lead with her best mark of the season, 47-4½ (14.44). She took off with about 2 inches of board to spare and bounced rather evenly through the phases. The favored Moore, meanwhile, had fouled her first and moved into 3rd with 44-9¾ (13.66) on her second. The top 3 spots — and the team — were settled.
The third stanza was ho-hum, with a foul by Moore, 46-0 (14.02) for Orji and a narrow foul by Franklin.
Yearly list leader Moore made the battle for the runner-up spot more interesting in round 4, improving to 46-6¾ (14.19). Orji didn’t improve and Franklin fouled again.
In the final two rounds Orji made a run at a seventh title in a row, improving first to 47-2¼ (14.38), then to a seasonal best 47-4¼ (14.43), but couldn’t move up.
Said ’22 Worlds bronze medalist Franklin, “I’m really excited. I’ve had a slow start to my outdoor season so I’m just happy that things are coming together now and keep going upwards. I think that at this point I’m beginning to learn my body and learn the pace that I need to get ready for the big meets.”
WOMEN’S TRIPLE JUMP RESULTS
(July 06)
(winds ranged from +2.3 to –1.2)
1. Tori Franklin (Nik) 47-4½ (14.44)
(46-11¾, 47-4½, f, f, 46-1¼, 46-9½) (14.32, 14.44, f, f, 14.05, 14.26);
2. Keturah Orji (Miz) 47-4¼ (14.43)
(46-11¾, f, 46-0, 46-3¼, 47-2¼, 47-4¼) (14.32, f, 14.02, 14.10, 14.38, 14.43);
3. Jasmine Moore (Fl) 46-6¾ (14.19)
(f, 46-6¾ (14.19), f, 46-6¾, f, 46-2¾) (f, 13.66, f, 14.19, f, 14.09);
4. Imani Oliver (TSB) 44-5¼ (13.54)
(43-2½, 42-9, 43-4½, 43-7, f, 44-5¼) (13.17, 13.03, 13.22, 13.28, f, 13.54);
5. Mylana Hearn (DBeth) 43-10¾ (13.38)
(43-8¾, 43-1, 43-8¾, f, 43-10¾, 43-7¼) (13.33, 13.13, 13.33, f, 13.38, 13.29);
6. Titiana Marsh (Ga) 43-8 (13.31)
(43-6, 43-8, 43-4¼, 43-5¼, f, 42-4¾) (13.26, 13.31, 13.21, 13.24, f, 12.92);
7. Euphenie Andre (Mo) 43-1¾ (13.15)
(f, 42-2¼, 43-1¾, 41-½, 42-¾, 41-5¾) (f, 12.86, 13.15, 12.51, 12.82, 12.64);
8. Alexa Wandy (Tracksm) 43-¼ (13.11) PR
(42-10¼, 43-¼, f, 42-2¼, 42-7½, f) (13.06, 13.11, f, 12.86, 12.99, f);
9. Alexis Ellis (Or) 42-6¼ (12.96) PR; 10. Jada Branch (App) 42-0 (12.80); 11. Asherah Collins (UCF) 41-8 (12.70); 12. Victoria Kadiri (JH) 41-2¼ (12.55); 13. Arianna Fisher (Mo) 41-½ (12.51); 14. Amy Warren (Aub) 41-¼ (12.50); 15. Cierra Pulliam (unat) 40-11 (12.47); 16. Ryann Porter (InSt) 40-9¾ (12.44).