Razorback pair advance to final, Pinnock sets world leading mark
BUDAPEST, Hungary – Razorback Wayne Pinnock, representing Jamaica, produced the longest long jump in the world for 2023 with a distance of 28 feet, 0.25 inches during the qualifying round on Wednesday at the World Athletics Championships in the National Athletics Center.
The career best leap for Pinnock moves him to equal No. 20 on the all-time world list, as well as No. 6 on the all-dates collegiate all-time list. The previous world leading mark for 2023 coming into the meet was 27-7.5 (8.42) by India’s Jeswin Aldrin from March.
“I just jumped like I do in training,” noted Pinnock, who surprised himself with the tremendous effort. “I came here, had the focus, and just jumped. My coach told me to take one jump and I did it that way.
“When I saw the distance, I was like: ‘Oooh.’ I was trying for this moment, and it happened so I’m grateful. In the final, I want to go out there and do the same thing and whatever comes will come. I focused on pushing my first six or seven steps, then just kept my transition and take-off.”
Pinnock ranks No. 3 on the Jamaica all-time list behind Tajay Gayle (28-6.25|8.69) and James Beckford (28-3.5|8.62).
In the history of the World Championships, dating 40 years, only two marks bettered Pinnock’s performance. A wind-aided 28-2.25w (8.59w) by Dwight Phillips in 2005 at Helsinki and a wind-legal 28-1 (8.56) by Carl Lewis at the 1991 Tokyo meet.
Among the Razorback legends on the Arkansas all-time list, Pinnock moves to No. 3 behind Erick Walder at 28-8.25 (8.74) as well as Jarrion Lawson with a 28-1.75 (8.58). Previously at No. 6 on the UA all-time list with a 27-5.5 (8.37), Pinnock moved ahead of Melvin Lister (27-10.25|8.49), Robert Howard (27-6.75|8.40), and Mike Conley (27-6|8.38).
Razorback and Jamaica teammate Carey McLeod joined Pinnock in reaching the final with an automatic qualifying distance of 26-10.5 (8.19), which led group B and was fourth best overall.
Pinnock and McLeod were two of just four jumpers to surpass the automatic mark of 26-9 (8.15). They will contest the long jump final on Thursday evening.
With just 12 jumpers advancing to the final, Arkansas alum Jarrion Lawson fell short of the advancing distance of 26-3 (8.00) with a 26-1.5 (7.96) effort that placed him 16th overall. LaQuan Nairn, the fourth Razorback in the field, didn’t register a mark as he had three fouls in the competition.
Previous world leader Aldrin was the 12th and final qualifier to the final with the 26-3 distance.
