Reese Defends World Long Jump Title

Photo courtesy Joshua McCoy, Ole Miss Athletics

MOSCOW – On Saturday, Brittney Reese survived through the opening round of the 2013 World Championships women’s long jump as the final qualifier.

On Sunday, the former Ole Miss star did what she does best. She soared to another world title, capturing her third straight world outdoor crown and sixth overall in international competition.

Reese jumped 7.01 meters (23-0) on her second attempt, and that mark held up through the next four rounds of jumps to give her the gold medal. Nigeria’s Blessing Okagbare earned silver with a jump of 6.99, and Serbia’s Ivana Spanovic got bronze with a 6.82.

“It feels good,” Reese said after winning another gold. “This was great because now I am in the history books, and I’ve done something that no one has ever done. I’m just excited that God gave me the opportunity to get that last spot yesterday, so I could come out here and show the world that yesterday was not the Brittney Reese that they know. Today was the one that they know. My plan was to get the first jump, but that didn’t go as planned. I thought that seven meters was going to get me a medal, but I didn’t know it would get me gold. I’m glad it held up, and I’m glad I didn’t wait until the last minute and give everybody a scare. Yesterday I was sluggish because I caught a cold and my body wasn’t where it needed to be, and I just got plenty of rest and a lot of fluids and just put that in the back of my head, because I can’t blame being sick on not winning gold.”

In her brilliant professional career, Reese has now won six consecutive international titles (world outdoor titles in 2009, 2011 and 2013; world indoor titles in 2010 and 2012; Olympic gold medal in London in 2012). The last time she failed to win a world title was way back in the 2008 Beijing Olympics in her first year as a pro.

Recently graduated Ole Miss sprinter Isiah Young will also compete for Team USA in Moscow. He is the top U.S. man in the 200 meters and will run in the first round of heats on Friday. The 200 meter final is Saturday and will be televised by NBC.

— Ole Miss Sports Information