Jasmine Moore takes NCAA TJ, photo from NCAA TF video
This is our first day 2 piece from SOJC Track Bureau. McKenzie Days wrote this piece on the Long Jump and she captured the essence of the competition! This is the first of four pieces from the SOJC on day two!
Jasmine Moore wins Long Jump Thursday Evening
By McKenzie Days
SOJC Track Bureau
Florida’s Jasmine Moore won her first NCAA outdoor title in the long jump with her first attempt of 22 feet, ¾ inches on Thursday, two days before her main event, the triple jump, which is Saturday.
“When I jumped 6.72 on my first one, it gave me the confidence to keep on going for the rest of the competition,” she said. Moore’s consistent other jumps within the 21-foot range allowed her to reside comfortably in first place for the entire competition.
Spectators may have noticed that Moore opted out of her last jump. Moore said she wanted to save her body for the triple jump.
“Getting ready for triple jump now–which is like my baby–I really love that event,” she said. “So it’s just to get ready for that and feel good.”
Moore has had a strong season. She won the long jump at NCAA indoors in March. Then, she broke her own collegiate record and won the triple jump as well. Winning all four indoor and outdoor titles would be a historic feat.
Going into her preparation for Thursday’s competition, Moore said her central goal was to start off strong, remain focused and stay consistent. If someone were to jump farther, she would follow up and adjust to that. She said she was happy with how she was on the runway.
“I’m very happy for how I did and very thankful,” she said.
Moore also competed in the Olympic Trials in Hayward last year, and she said her upcoming immediate goals are to get ready for USA trials at the end of the month and qualify for the U.S. team for the World Athletics Championships in July. For those goals, her routine will consist of maintaining, resting and retaining the health of her body when she arrives back in Gainesville.
