LONDON – Former Ole Miss standout Brittney Reese advanced through Tuesday’s qualifying round of the women’s long jump and into Wednesday’s final at the 2012 Olympic Games.
Reese, who is the two-time defending outdoor long jump world champion and a two-time indoor world champion, did not make it the easiest route for herself to the final in London.
After fouling her first two attempts, Reese took a “safe” jump at the front of the launching board and landed with a mark of 6.57 meters (21-6.75) to place ninth overall. The top 12 advanced to Wednesday’s final, which will begin at 2:05 p.m. CT.
It was a day of surprising disappointments in the women’s long jump, as the 2008 Beijing gold medalist (Brazil’s Maurren Higa Maggi) and bronze medalist (Nigeria’s Blessing Okagbare) failed to qualify for the final. Reese is the highest Beijing finisher (fifth place) to make the London final.
The Gulfport, Miss., native and former NCAA champion at Ole Miss boasts the world’s top long jump mark this year of 7.23 meters (23-8.75). The Olympic record is 7.40 meters, set by Jackie Joyner-Kersee at the 1988 Games in Seoul.
Fans can watch both Reese and Ole Miss junior Isiah Young, who advanced to the men’s 200 meter semifinals, live at NBCOlympics.com or highlights during NBC primetime (7-11 p.m. CT).
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