UCLA
Rafer Johnson/Jackie Joyner Kersee Invitational
Clark Jumps Huge Lifetime-Best In Triple Jump At RJ/JJK Invite
April 09, 2011 | Track & Field
April 9, 2011
Jonathan Clark wasn't scheduled to compete in the triple jump on Saturday, but it's a good thing he did because the senior came away with a huge lifetime-best performance of 53-00.75 to finish third overall. That mark will rank in the top 10 in the NCAA this season and improves upon his previous best of 52-3.75 which was achieved in the Texas Tri-Meet in late March. Clark also finished third in the high jump with a season-best clearance of 6-9.
The Bruin men held many athletes out of the meet to rest up for next weekend's showdown with Oregon as only distance runners and a few field event athletes competed on Saturday.
Drake Stadium saw some of today's top professional athletes competing on Saturday including Olympic medalists Kerron Clement, Shawn Crawford and Felix Sanchez. Several other top U.S. athletes were also in action including Jason Richardson and Kenneth Ferguson. Richardson won the 110m hurdles with the sixth-best time in the world this year (13.54), while Greg Dixon ran the top 400m time in the U.S. this season. He also set a new meet record (45.41). Jamie Nieto, won of the U.S.'s top high jumpers, broke the meet record to win the event today, clearing 7-5. During the three-day invitational, five meet records fell; decathlon, high jump, 400m, triple jump and discus.
In the pole vault, freshman Mike Woepse and senior Scott DiCesare tied for third with equal clearances of 16-2.75. Senior Bo Taylor was the top collegiate finisher in the discus (and 2nd overall) with a mark of 178-8. Junior Thomas Nagengast was fourth (165-8), while frosh Matthew Kosecki was seventh (158-5).
Junior Taylor Hobson finished second in the high jump as he cleared a season-best 6-11.
In running events, junior Jonathan Simmons was the top collegiate finisher in the 800m (2nd overall) as he ran 1:52.99. The invitational mile saw Bruin alum Jon Rankin (now running for the Cayman Islands) take the meet crown in a time of 4:02.51. Senior Alex Crabill was fifth (4:06.02), while senior Cory Primm was seventh (4:08.56) and freshman Philip MacQuitty finished eighth (4:09.03).
Rankin also won the 800m and set a new Cayman Islands National Record in the event with his winning time of 1:50.22.
The Bruins will host a scored dual with the Oregon Ducks on Sunday, April 17th in the final home event of the year.
Players Mentioned
