The men’s long jump was one of the deepest in recent memory, with tenth place at 8.02 meters. But in the medal positions, there was some surprises, and some long leaps. Luvo Manyongo, the South African long jump star, had the longest jump in the world before the championships. Manyongo leaped a series, with a foul, then, 8.48m leading jump, 8.32m, 8.29m, 8.19m and finally a foul. Jarrion Lawson, the young American who equalled Jesse Owens NCAA wins in 2016, and finished in fourth, an agonizing position in Rio, took silver with a fine leap of 8.44 meters. His series of 8.37m, 8.43m, 8.40m, 8.11m, and 8.44m, only 4 centimeters behind Manyango. In third, South African Ruswahl Samaii, leaped 8.25m, foul, 8.15m, foul, 8.27m, 8.32m, the final leap taking Samaii into bronze medal position.
Jarrion Lawson, Silver medalist, Long Jump, photo by PhotoRun.net
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