NCAA Women’s Triple Jump — Moore Avenges LJ Loss

“I WAS A BIT ANGRY.” That was the simple explanation from Jasmine Moore, who had finished 3rd in a long jump where which she had been the formchart favorite.

Jumping second, the Florida junior began by popping a wind-aided 47-1¾ (14.37), a distance only one other collegiate jumper had bettered this year. That was Charisma Taylor’s 48-10 (14.88) in the recordsetting NCAA Indoor.

Jumping ninth, Ackelia Smith, Moore’s conqueror in the LJ two days earlier, opened at 46-8¼w (14.23), and Taylor followed with 45-8½ (13.93).

The stage was set for round 2. Moore was warmed up and ready. She hit the board properly and reached 48-6 (14.78) — a collegiate outdoor best exceeded on the collegiate all-time list only by her three big jumps at the Indoor.

Among Americans, only Keturah Orji 48-11½ (14.92) and Tori Franklin 48-9 (14.86) have better outdoor marks. Of course, Moore’s résumé includes those 49-7¼ (15.12), 49-5¾ (15.08) and 48-9 (14.86) indoor leaps.

“My body felt good,” said Moore, who was trying to win her fourth straight TJ title. “I wanted to do great. My technique was right on and I gave it my best. I hit a PR.”

Texas’s long jump champ Smith, a diminutive Jamaican, followed with 46-9w (14.25) and then a PR 47-8½ (14.54) in round 3.

She was excited and proud: “I love competing against Jasmine. We make each other better, I feel great because I contributed some more points for the team.” She averaged just over 46-11½ (14.31) on her six jumps, Moore 46-1½ (14.06).

Texas Tech’s Rūta Lasmane also tripled a career long by a centimeter — 46-7½ (14.21), albeit windy on her third jump and followed with a 46-7¼w (14.20) in the fourth frame.

Tennessee senior Taylor opened at 45-8½ (13.93) and held 3rd with that until Lasmane’s big effort in the third. The same fate followed USC’s Temitope Ojora as she opened at 44-9¾ (13.66) and held 4th until a busy third, wherein jumps by Texas Tech’s Anne-Suzanna Fosther-Katta and then Georgia’s Titiana Marsh pushed her down to 6th.

WOMEN’S TJ RESULTS

(June 10)

1. *Jasmine Moore (Fl) 48-6 (14.78) out PR (x, 10 A; 6 C; 1, 1 NCAA) (MR)

(47-1¾w, 48-6, 47-1¾ [x, 3 NCAA], 46-10, 41-2½, 46-0w) (14.37w, 14.78, 14.37, 14.27, 12.56, 14.02w);

2. **Ackelia Smith’ (Tx-Jam) 47-8½ (14.54) PR (4, x C; 2, 2 NCAA)

(46-8¼w, 46-9w, 47-8½, 46-7¼w, 46-11w,…