MOST FIGURED THAT Selva Prabhu of Kansas State would contend for the triple jump crown, but he wasn’t a favorite. That would have been the defending champion from Oklahoma, Brandon Green, who led the outdoor ranks at 55-7¾ (16.96), or perhaps Jonathan Seremes of Texas Tech, who won Indoors with a big 56-7¼ (17.25).
Prabhu, the Big 12 champ with a windy 56-4¾ (17.19), had finished 2nd indoors and said that disappointment motivated him. Round 1 must have also, because he watched as Seremes bounded 53-5 ¾ (16.30) to take the early lead and Green followed with a 54-1¼ (16.49). Prabhu could only muster a 53-1¾ (16.20).
In round 2, Green improved his lead to 54-6 (16.61). Then the jumper before Prabhu, Oklahoma State frosh Kelvin Kemboi, nailed a 55-3 (16.84) to take over. That fired up Prabhu, who launched himself to an outdoor PR of 55-6¼ (16.92).
In the end, that was all it took. Green would improve to 55-¾ (16.78) and stay in 3rd. Oregon’s Tre Betts bounced a last-round 54-4w (16.56) to grab 4th ahead of Seremes, who had a 54-1 (16.48). Prabhu, who explained later he was having trouble with leg cramps, produced three fouls and passed his final attempt once it was clear he was safe.
“I feel great,” the 21-year-old said. “It was my dream to win the title, because indoors I got a silver. I just missed by 20 centimeters, but I came back again.”
The key, he said, was the work he and his coach, 2-time NCAA Indoor champ Clive Pullen, had done on his approach. “I was struggling with that a little. I feel like the last three steps I was just slowing down and hitting the board. My coach was saying before the competition, ‘Just execute the last three steps properly.’”
Prabhu won the World Junior silver in ’22 and said that now his attention turns to the international season, where he has two competitions coming up that will determine if he has a spot on India’s team for the Asian Games and the Commonwealth Games.
MEN’S TRIPLE JUMP RESULTS
FINAL (June 12, winds ranged from +2.7 to –1.1)
1. **Selva Prabhu’ (KsSt-Ind) 55-6¼ (16.92) outPR
(53-1¾, 55-6¼, f, f, f, p) (16.20, 16.92, f, f, f, p);
2. ***Kevin Kemboi’ (OkSt-Ken) 55-3 (16.84) PR
(52-11½w, 55-3, 45-8½, 53-6¼, 54-1¼, 53-1½) (16.14w, 16.84, 13.93, 16.31, 16.49, 16.19);
3. Brandon Green (Ok) 55-¾ (16.78)
(54-1¼, 54-6, 55-¾, 54-5¼, 54-10, 54-11½w) (16.49, 16.61, 16.78, 16.59, 16.71, 16.75w);
4. Tre Betts (Or) 54-4w (16.56)
(f, 53-3w, 53-9¾w, 53-4¼w, 53-4¼, 54-4w) (f, 16.23w, 16.40w, 16.26w, 16.26, 16.56w);
5. **Jonathan Seremes’ (TxT-Fra) 54-1 (16.48)
(53-5¾, 53-7½, 54-1, 54-½, 54-0, 53-9¾) (16.30, 16.34, 16.48, 16.47, 16.46, 16.40);
6. *Jemuel Miller’ (UTSA-Bar) 53-11¾ (16.45) PR
(f, 51-3, 53-11¾, f, f, f) (f, 15.62, 16.45, f, f, f);
7. Kelsey Daniel’ (Tx-Tri) 53-11¼ (16.44)
(52-11w, 53-1¾, f, 53-7¾, 53-6½, 53-11¼) (16.13w, 16.20, f, 16.35, 16.32, 16.44);
8. Praise Aniamaka’ (Pur-Can) 53-11 (16.43)
(53-7½, 45-¼, 52-½, 53-11, 53-4¼, 51-3½) (16.34, 13.72, 15.86, 16.43, 16.26, 15.63);
9. Daniel Falode’ (TxAM-GB) 53-1¾ (16.20); 10. Roman Kuleshov’ (Louis-Rus) 52-8 (16.05); 11. ***Antone Smith’ (Az-Bah) 52-5½ (15.99); 12. Apalos Edwards’ (KsSt-Jam) 52-5½ (15.99); 13. Viktor Morozov’ (Il-Est) 52-5¼ (15.98); 14. *Divine Aniamaka’ (Clem-Can) 52-4½ (15.96); 15. *Aaron Antoine’ (KsSt-Tri) 52-2¾ (15.92); 16. Theo Mudzengerere’ (Ky-Zim) 52-0 (15.85); 17. *Xavier Partee (NCAT) 51-11 (15.82); 18. *Miller Jones (Louis) 51-10½ (15.81); 19. **Chidozie Kalu’ (Pur-Ngr) 51-2¼ (15.60); 20. **Gilles Ouedraogo’ (Lib-BF) 51-2¼ (15.60); 21. **Jaden Lippett (Fl) 50-7½ (15.43); 22. Ryan John (NCSt) 50-6 (15.39); 23. **Khalil Antoine (MsSt) 49-11 (15.21);… 3f—Kyvon Tatham (FlSt).
