byLarry EderThe Atlanta Track Club is sponsoring @runblogrun’s Moment of Larry from March 1-March 22, 2018. ATC is sponsoring this series to remind our @runblogrun readers about the Registration time for the 2018 AJC Peachtree 10k!
The 49th edition of the world’s largest 10k, the AJC Peachtree Road Race will be held on July 4, 2018. The open registration for the AJC Peachtree Road Race Lottery is open March 15, 2018 to March 22, 2018.
Key Dates for AJC Peachtree Road Race Registration
March 1-14: Early Registration for Atlanta Track Club members at atlantrackclub.org
March 15-22: Lottery Registration for the general public open at AJC.com/peachtree.
March 22: Lottery selections emailed and posted on peachtreeroadrace.org and AJC.com/peachtree
Our Moment of Larry highlights a special moment from an event or day and our behind the scenes coverage of events in our sport. For March 2, 2018, we are speaking about the Men’s Long Jump at 2018 World Indoor Championships, and this amazing Cuban teenager, Juan Miguel Echevarria!
Juan Miguel Echevarria, photo by PhotoRun.net
Remember doing the long jump in grade school track? Everybody did it. Well, watching the long jump now at the eltie level is to see men and women soar in the air. For distance runners, to appreciate the effort and focus of the field events just takes a couple of rounds of watching. The men’s LJ at Birmingham is a great case in point.
Juan Miguel Echevarria, photo by PhotoRun.net
The Long Jump for men in Birmingham was a historic event. 19 year old Juan Miguel Echevarria of Cuba came to Birmingham to do two things, win the gold medal and defeat Luvo Manyonga, the current World Champion.
Juan Miguel Echevarria, who was 19 years, 203 days on the date of March 2, is an immensely talented young jumper, coming from a country that produces great long jumpers, triple jumpers and pole vaulters, among other fine athletes. Cuba has a long tradition in athletics and as children, most Cubans are introduced to athletics events.
Juan Miguel Echevarria has a best outdoors of 8.28 meters. This indoor season, Juan went from a best of 7.97 meters this season to 8.34 meters, in a meet in Metz. Echevarria was ready and he was focused. His last meet prior to the World Indoors was a nice 8.20 meters.
During the Long Jump World Champs, Echevarria took the lead from round one, he was battling, just as he thought he would, with Luvo Manyonga, the outdoor World Champion, and Maurice Dendy, the defending champion.
The Moment of Larry was the fifth jump. Luvo Manyonga had a tremendous leap of 8.44 meters in round 4, to take the lead back from Echevarria, who had leaped 8.36 meters in round 4.
What does the young Cuban do? You got it, he gets on the runway, checks his mark, takes a deep breath and begins to run fast, very fast, making sure he does not put any of his shoes beyond the take off board. Echevarria flies, and the crowd roars, hitting the sand at the very end of the pit. The white flag goes up, and the crowd roars. Juan Miguel Echevarria has taken the lead once again in a truly seesaw event.
That 8.46 meter jump, that amazing hang time in the air, was your Moment of Larry for Day 2, (thanks, Atlanta Track Club for sponsoring our series)
Maurice Dendy responds with an 8.42 meter leap PB, giving the medalist the best top three in World Indoor History. Manyonga responds with a foul.
Juan Miguel Echevarria, Maurice Dendy, photo by PhotoRun.net
Juan Miguel Echevarria achieved his goals, as the 19 year old won the gold, set a PB and world leader with his 8.46 meter jump. Luvo Manyonga, the South African star, set SA National records twice during the competition, with his only two legal jumps, 8.33 meters in attempt 3, and 8.44 in attempt 4. Maurice Dendy took the bronze in 8.42 meters.
So, the superlatives, were numerous. Youngest gold medalist in a field event, best medal distances in World Indoor History, a world leader, a national record and a personal best.
Key Dates for AJC Peachtree Road Race Registration
March 1-14: Early Registration for Atlanta Track Club members at atlantrackclub.org
March 15-22: Lottery Registration for the general public open at AJC.com/peachtree.
March 22: Lottery selections emailed and posted on peachtreeroadrace.org and AJC.com/peachtree
Not bad for a group of fine athletes jumping into a sand pit!
