Longest jump in 2024 earns Diamond League win for McLeod
DOHA – A big, wind-aided leap of 27 feet, 11.5 inches (8.52) earned Arkansas alum Carey McLeod a long jump victory in the Diamond League meet on Friday as he defeated 2021 Olympic and 2023 World champion Miltiadis Tentoglou of Greece.
The mark for McLeod, who placed fourth in the 2023 World Championships, is the longest all-conditions long jump in the world for 2024, replacing the 27-8.25w (8.44) effort by fellow Jamaican and Razorback Wayne Pinnock.
“The result today was good apart from the wind,” noted McLeod of the 5.2 assisting wind on his winning mark. “Everyone tries to push themselves, it’s a great feeling. In order to win I had to jump something amazing.
“I’ll just go back home to see how good I can prepare for the next competition. A 8.52 mark is amazing. I felt good here, the crowd is amazing.”
Tentoglou, runner-up at 27-5.25 (8.36) with an outdoor world-leading wind legal mark, was pleased with his opening meet of the season. In third place was decathlete Simon Ehammer of Switzerland with a 27-2.75w (8.30).
“It was my first event this year and I was not expecting much, I was prepared for like a 8.20m jump,” stated Tentoglou.
“The Jamaican guy jumped 8.52, I could get him tonight, I tried in my last effort, but it is too early in the season for me at the moment. The most positive thing I take from this event is that I really felt happy when (Carey) McLeod made the winning 8.52 jump. I really felt nice and it made me try to get further than him. I enjoy it more at an event when another competitor makes longer jumps and pushes me for more.”
McLeod’s winning mark came in the fourth round. His previous best mark, a windy 26-8.5 (8.14) was registered in round three.
Another Razorback in the competition was LaQuan Nairn of the Bahamas, who finished eighth with a 24-11w (7.59).
In the women’s pole vault, Arkansas alum Tina Šutej placed third with a height of 15-2.25 (4.63) in her outdoor opener while Sandi Morris finished sixth at 14-10.25 (4.53). An Achilles injury limited Šutej’s indoor season to just three meets, the last being on February 10.
“Today’s competition was really hard, the wind was crazy and it was switching around so we had some difficulties, but I am happy with my performance and with my place,” said Šutej. “This result is OK given the fact we are at the beginning of the season and also taking into account that I started a little bit later because of my injury.
“I didn’t go to the World Indoor Championships and started training late, so actually I am not in the best shape yet. The crowd is crazy, I can’t even hear myself thinking because it is so loud! I will go to Marrakech next, I ‘m excited as there is a lot of competitions coming up. Right now I am thinking about the European Championships and after that I will start thinking about the Olympics.”
