University of Texas wide receiver and track star Marquise Goodwin advanced to the finals in the men’s long jump Friday at the 2012 Olympics in London after qualifying on his first and only jump. Goodwin’s jump of 8.11 meters was the best of the 21 competitors in Group A of the qualifying round and second best overall. Group B’s Mauro Vinicius da Silva of Brazil finished only slightly ahead of Goodwin with an equal jump length of 8.11 meters and slightly more headwind.
Former University of Florida track and field athlete Will Claye joins Goodwin as the only other American to compete in the long jump finals tomorrow, after notching a best jump of 7.99 meters in three attempts. The third American in the qualifying round, George Kitchens Jr. failed to qualify after defaults on his first two attempts and landed a jump of 6.84 in his last effort.  Only seven competitors jumped over the 8 meter mark on what could be considered a day of unpredictable wind in London.
American Mike Powell holds the long jump record at 8.95 meters which was set at the World Championships in Tokyo in 1991.
Catch Marquise in the Olympic long jump finals tomorrow at 1:55 pm CST.
