Eugene, Oregon – No one predicted the outcome of the men’s triple jump final at the World U20 Athletics Championships at Hayward Field here on Friday (7 Aug). That is the beauty of sports. It was the sort of performance that makes legends, which track and field aficionados will discuss in awed tones for years to come. The event, held the attention of a rapt audience right down to the final jump, with five of the top six competitors achieving personal bests.
In the opening round, Jamaica’s Michael-Andre Edwards appeared out of sorts, recording 13.76m, a distance that placed him 7th just ahead of four jumpers who did not register a mark. American Miles Nesmith took an early lead, cutting the sand at 16.23m. Italy’s Francesco Crotti then joined Nesmith as the only men beyond 16m in the first round.
The third round saw a leadership change as China’s Zhuoyue Wang bounded out to 16.36m. Edwards, who remained as cool as a cucumber, gradually found his rhythm, jumping 16.32m and moving into fourth place, just one centimetre behind Crotti.
Nesmith regained the lead with a new PB of 16.54m in the fourth round that looked like the winning mark until Edwards flicked a switch. Edwards, whose only loss this season came at the Jamaican trials, bounded out to 16.71m, a massive personal best. The mark put the competition in a chokehold with Wang retiring hurt and Crotti wilting under the mounting pressure.
Only Nesmith could respond, and he did so admirably, producing a monster jump of 16.79m. On another night, that performance would have wrapped up the contest. However, this night belonged to Edwards, whose never-say-die attitude would not allow him to settle for second best on the biggest stage.
The unflappable Jamaica College student-athlete then produced a performance for the ages in the final round. Edwards, after an immaculate run-up, bounded out to 17.08m, the first U20 athlete to achieve that feat this season. Edwards could not contain his excitement and celebrated with unrestrained joy. However, the contest was not yet over as Nesmith had one last attempt and ultimately the final say.
Unfortunately, the pressure got to him, and he almost hurt himself after landing awkwardly in the pit. His final mark was 15.89m.
“I didn’t even know I made it. After the fifth round, I got my groove,” said Edwards, who became the second Jamaican to win the World U20 title. “I look up to all the triple jumpers, so it’s good. It is great to follow in their footsteps and win a world title. I’m doing everything there is to do.”
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