WITH MANY MONTHS of varying C19 confines to have to had to contend with, athletes at all levels broke out of quarantine in major fashion in the third week of January, highlighted by new records at the World, Collegiate and American Junior levels:
Zango Claims Triple Jump World Record
In a perfect example of the student becoming the master, Burkinabé triple jumper Hugues Fabrice Zango became the first 59-foot (or 18-meter) jumper ever indoors, bounding 59-3½ (18.07) to add 15cm to the World Indoor Record of 58-9½ (17.92) that his coach, Teddy Tamgho, set twice a decade ago. By all accounts, it’s the first time ever a WR holder has coached his immediate successor.
The big performance (Aubière, France, January 16) came on Zango’s final attempt in a series that started with a foul, followed by 56-10¼ (17.33), another foul, 57-9½ (17.61), and a 58-1 (17.70) on his penultimate jump.
“It means a lot for me because since last year I have been thinking about this record, because it was my coach’s record,” Zango said. “For me the athlete has to beat the coach. We were teasing each other about the record.”
Added the 27-year-old Zango, who won bronze at the ’19 Worlds and has an outdoor best of 57-11¼ (17.66), “It gives me more confidence about my power and my abilities to do great things in the future. Yesterday the objective was to go to the Olympics and get a medal, but now the goal is to go to the Olympics and get the gold medal.”
Lavillenie Clears World Leader In Vault
Renaud Lavillenie stole the show in his season opener at the Star Perche Officiel (Bordeaux, France, January 16) with a clearance of 19-5 (5.92). That equaled his highest season-opening mark ever, a feat he first turned way back in ’11.
“I cleared 5.80 [19-¼] in training and the objective today was 5.90 [19-4¼],” he said. I still have four steps to add and this will give me more speed. The signs are good.”
He beat little brother Valentin with his second-attempt clearance at 19-1 (5.82). He needed two tries at his final mark, then missed in three goes at 19-8¼ (6.00).
But the mark would last at the top of the world list for only a few hours…
Lightfoot Nails Collegiate Vault Record
It’s dangerous to place much stock in practice marks, but on January 08 video was posted of KC Lightfoot clearing a bar set at 6-meters (19-8¼). This one was indeed a good indicator of things to come as the Baylor junior flew to a Collegiate Record 19-5¾ (5.94) at the Corky Classic (Lubbock, Texas, January 16). That put to bed South Dakotan Chris Nilsen’s 19-5½ (5.93) from last year.
Vaulting at 981 friendly meters of altitude, the 21-year-old Lightfoot made first-time clearances starting with his opener at 17-10¼ (5.44). He didn’t miss until the bar went to 19-8¼ (6.00). The only soundtrack being the cheers of fellow athletes in the otherwise nearly empty fieldhouse, Lightfoot had plenty of air as he arced over the bar without contact.
“Some things fell into place and the Collegiate Record stayed up there,” he said. “There are plenty of things to work on and I believe a 6-meter bar will be coming sooner rather than later.”
Baylor head Todd Harbour analyzed, “There’s more to come, but what a way to start the indoor season.”
Mu Slams American Junior 800 Record
Athing Mu didn’t waste any time in college, tearing down the AJR — and narrowly missing the WJR — at the Nelson Invitational (College Station, Texas, January 16) in her first race in an Aggie singlet. The night before, she had prophetically posted on Instagram, “The real fun begins tomorrow.”
Her 2:01.07 beat the ’17 record of 2:01.78 set by Sammy Watson. After passing halfway in 60.75, she accelerated through laps of 30.62 and 29.70 for a negative split of 60.32 for the second half. She came back later with a 53.69 third leg on the winning 4×4.
Said A&M coach Pat Henry, “she wants to be the best ever that stepped on the track. Watching her, you can see this kid has things not many can do.”
Usoro Scares Collegiate TJ Record
Texas Tech’s Ruth Usoro, a senior from Nigeria, signaled that ’21 might be a very special year, as she became the No. 2 collegiate triple jumper ever indoors in her first attempt of the season, with her 46-10¼ (14.28).
Competing on her home runway at the Corky Classic, the 23-year-old Nigerian senior, who also won the long jump at 21-4¼ (6.51), added more than 2½ feet to her old best of 44-3¼ (13.49).
“When I first saw the mark, I was really surprised,” she said. “I had to look back and check that it was really my mark. I was so surprised when I saw it, because I wasn’t really expecting it at this time. It came so early.” She followed up with a second round 46-2 (14.07) before passing her remaining tries.
High Schoolers Sparkle Too
The new track at the Virginia Beach Sports Center proved its worthiness as a host of top prep performances came out of the Virginia HS Showcase.
The quest for the fastest Junior girls 4×8 (an event not recognized at the U20 level by either WA or USATF), brought together four of the top preps in the event, who a day earlier had hammered out a dazzling 800.
On Saturday, Juliette Whittaker (Mt. De Sales, Catonsville, Maryland) broke the junior-class record with her 2:02.07, moving to No. 3 all-time. That topped sophomore Sophia Gorriaran (Brown, Providence, Rhode Island), who ran 2:03.96 to move to No. 6 all time. Roisin Willis (Stevens Point, Wisconsin) followed in 2:04.31, then came Bailey Goggans (Marble Falls, Texas) in 2:07.84.
For the relay on Sunday, the four teamed up to go after the best in the rarely run event — the standard was the 8:37.71 that Vere Tech team from Jamaica ran outdoors at the ’91 Penn Relays.
Willis led off at 2:05.97, followed by Goggans (2:20.49 on what was reported as a broken foot), Whittaker (2:05.25) and Gorriaran (2:05.49). That brought the foursome home 0.51 better than the record. Note that the mark is not eligible as a High School Record because T&FN doesn’t consider all-star teams for such recognition.
In the girls 2M, Sydney Thorvaldson (Rawlins, Wyoming) traded the lead with Brynn Brown (Guyer, Denton, Texas) for the first half before setting out on her own to notch a 9:47.95–9:51.00 victory. They moved to Nos. 2-3 all-time.
On the boys side, a HSR was missed in the 300 when Jaylen Slade (IMG, Bradenton, Florida) almost stopped at the wrong line but had enough momentum to record the No. 2 time ever, 32.77, just 0.13 short of the record.
In the 500, Justin Braun (Worthington, Ohio) and Ashton Schwartzman (IMG) battled to the line in 1:02.67, sharing the No. 8 spot on the all-time list. Braun got first by virtue of a 0.008 margin.
