Eugene (United States) (AFP) – Reigning Olympic long jump champion Brittney Reese booked her ticket to Rio after producing the best leap worldwide in more than a decade to clinch victory at the US track and field trials in Eugene here Saturday.
The 29-year-old triple world champion surged clear of her rivals with a jump of 7.31 meters in warm and sunny conditions at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.
It was comfortably further than the previous world best of 7.16m set by Germany’s Sosthene Moguenara at a meeting in Weinheim on May 28.
Reese’s jump saw her join Marion Jones’ mark of 7.31 as the second-farthest long jumper in US history.
Only Jackie Joyner-Kersee with 7.49m has leapt further among American women.
Joyner-Kersee says Reese has still not reached her peak after watching her display on Saturday.
“There’s more to come. She’s a great athlete and a great person and I’m happy for her,” the US track and field legend said.
“She can pass me and go even further.”
Reese’s jump was also the best jump recorded anywhere since 2004, when Tatyana Lebedeva leapt 7.33m in Tula, Russia.
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