Jumping geniuses land at The Pre Classic
The women’s long jump at The Prefontaine Classic promises to be a close competition—every one of the athletes is a 2020 Olympian. The start list for the May 28 event includes many of the long jump finalists from the Tokyo Olympic Games as well as Olympians from the heptathlon and triple jump.
Get your cowboy hats ready—Tara Davis is coming to Hayward Field for her Pre Classic debut. The University of Texas alum, now competing for Champion, is known for wearing a cowboy hat and boots at her competitions. Davis broke the indoor and outdoor collegiate long jump records last year and subsequently claimed the NCAA titles. Her jump of 7.04 meters (23-1.25) earned her silver at the 2020 U.S. Olympic Team Trials and she finished sixth overall at the Olympic Games.
Serbian athlete Ivana Vuleta will also be joining the Pre Classic field. Vuleta reprised her role of hometown hero after her 7.06m (23-2) jump won gold at the 2022 World Athletics Indoor Championships in Belgrade, Serbia. Her world-leading jump was her farthest indoor result since her previous Belgrade win at the European Indoor Championships in 2017. Vuleta has attended four Olympic Games and most recently came in fourth in Tokyo.
After claiming triple jump silver at the 2022 World Athletics Indoor Championships, Maryna Bekh-Romanchuk will be coming to Eugene next month to compete in the long jump. Bekh-Romanchuk, of Ukraine, has consistently jumped over 6.90m (22-7.75) in her most recent meets. She has competed in two Olympic Games and placed fifth in the long jump in Tokyo.
Keep an eye on Ese Brume of Nigeria—she claimed bronze in the Tokyo Olympics and has the highest PR in the field at 7.17m (23-6.25).
Team USA Olympians Kendell Williams and Keturah Orji may have competed in different events at the 2020 Olympics, but don’t underestimate their long jump abilities. Williams, a heptathlete, holds a long jump PR of 7.00m (22-11.75) while Orji came in seventh in the triple jump at the 2020 Olympics. Khaddi Sagnia of Sweden and American Quanesha Burks round out the long jump competition.
The Prefontaine Classic women’s long jump competition will be held on Saturday, May 28. Purchase your tickets at PreClassic.com/tickets.