TRIPLE JUMP AFICIONADOS saw an amazing battle, but oh, what it could have been! The stage for the drama was set during the previous day’s qualifying, when Jamaican wunderkind Jayden Hibbert was the only man to hit the auto-Q, sailing out to 58-1 (17.70) on his second attempt. That was the No. 2 Junior (U20) mark ever. Only three others topped 17m: China’s Yaming Zhu (56-2¾/17.14), Cuba’s Lázaro Martínez and Burkina Faso’s Hugues Fabrice Zango, both at 56-2 (17.12).
Americans Will Claye and Chris Benard got through. USATF champion Donald Scott did not at 53-7 (16.33).
In the final the 18-year-old Hibbert, this year’s NCAA winner for Arkansas, jumped fifth. However, he aborted his first attempt, grabbing the back of his right leg in pain.
“I planted my leg on the board and just felt a cramp in my hamstring,” he said. “I don’t know why it happened because I felt great and ready during warm-up.”
Hibbert passed his second attempt while the medics worked on his leg, and then made the difficult decision to pass his third and last.
“I know I could fight for a medal here,” he said, “but the most important thing is that I gained experience at this level. I need to move on now; focus is on recovery and on next season… I will bounce back.”
At the end of the first round, Zango held the lead with a 57-0 (17.37). In round 2, China’s Yaoqing Fang hit 55-9¾ (17.01) to put a claim on 2nd. His teammate Zhu then went 56-2 (17.12) to take him down a notch. They both were demoted when Martínez bounced an impressive 57-1½ (17.41) to take over the lead. Zango, up next, fouled.
Round 3 saw no podium changes, but it did witness the end of Benard’s hopes. He ended up 9th, his 54-6½ (16.62) best from round 2 not good enough to get him three more attempts.
Cristian Nápoles of Cuba put himself into silver position with a 57-1 (17.40) in round 4, as Zango came close to his best at 56-11½ (17.36). That was but a hint of what last year’s silver medalist had in store. On his fifth attempt, he bounded a solid 57-10½ (17.64) to move past the Cubans into the lead. After none of the contenders improved in the final round, the 30-year-old Zango could call himself a gold medalist.
It wasn’t the greatest winning mark ever — in fact, the previous 8 Worlds all featured better, and Hibbert, of…
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