byLarry EderBrittney Reese is one of my favorite athletes. I have to say, I just love her athleticism! I remember, after the 2016 Olympic Trials, and she had leaped 7.31 meters, and I was floored! I spoke to her that evening and told her how much I enjoyed her jumping. Truth is, the crew in the women’s long jump, from Tianna Bartoletta to Brittney, to Ivana Spanovic, are total class acts, with truly sophisticated levels of competitiveness.
What do I mean by that? Well, the long jump and triple jump are truly technical events, but, there is more to the event that the science. So much of our sport is the practical application of the scientific method and the ‘untangables’. What do I mean by that?
For athletes like Brittney Reese, who won several major titles on her last jump, or Tianna Bartoletta, who who has done the same, or, Ivana Spanovic, who just won the European Indoors with an even longer 7.24 meters!
Brittney Reese is a former basketball player, who won the long jump and triple jump at her high school state meet in high school. In college, she won NCAA long jump title in 2007, and 2008, for the University of Mississippi. Her seven World championship titles, and Olympic gold and silver speak for themselves.
Brittney Reese, Tianna Bartoletta and Ivana Spanovic will all be competing in the Nike Pre Classic. This makes the LJ as competitve an event as you will find on the women’s or men’s athletic circuilts! All three women have won on last jump heroics. I can not wait to see how competitive these three women are in Eugene.
Brittney will battle with Tianna, Ivanka and the rest of the fine long jump field. Do not miss the last round of jumps, as there will be some big jumps, as always in the womens’ Long Jump!
See you next week!
