Nigerian jumper, Ruth Usoro, has expressed surprise after she set a new triple jump national record in the collegiate indoor event at the Texas Tech Corky Classic.
The Texas Tech senior set the Nigerian national record in the women’s triple jump and elevated to the No. 2 indoor performer in NCAA history on her first attempt of the season with an effort of 46 feet, 10.25 inches (14.28m).
On her only fair mark of the long jump competition, Usoro produced a third-round leap of 21-4.25 (6.51m).
Those combined marks equal a distance of 68 feet, 2.50 inches (20.79m).
Usoro, whose previous triple jump indoor best was 44-3.25 (13.49m) at the Red Raider Invitational last year, added a second-round attempt Saturday of 46-2 (14.07m).
She joined Keturah Orji, who still boasts eight of the top nine all-time collegiate indoor triple jump marks, and former Kansas long jump and triple jump national champion Andrea Geubelle as the only competitors in NCAA indoor history to achieve multiple 14-meter efforts in the same triple jump series.
Orji, an eight-time individual champion at Georgia in addition to being selected 2018 NCAA Woman of the Year and the Bowerman Award winner, had a long jump of 21-4.75 (6.52m) and triple jump of 46-10 (14.27m) during a two-day competition her senior year at the NCAA Division 1 Indoor Championships at Texas A&M.
Speaking about her achievements, Usoro told texastech.com: “I was really surprised when I saw it…I wasn’t expecting it at this time. It’s so early. I am just very thankful to God right now.”
“Our jumps group has rated Ruth the undisputed best teammate on the planet,” Texas Tech associate head coach James Thomas added. “It is fitting she is now amongst the very best performers in NCAA and Nigerian history. Moments like these allow all of us to feel unbelievably proud of her.”
Source:Dyestat.com
