By Tyler Mayforth, USTFCCCA
Tara Davis is synonymous with collegiate history now.
Davis, exactly two weeks after breaking the collegiate record in the indoor long jump, established the all-time collegiate standard in the outdoor version with her 7.14m (23-5¼) effort at the Texas Relays this afternoon. That topped the former collegiate record of 6.99m (22-11¼) set by Jackie Joyner of UCLA way back in 1985.
It was already the all-time, all-conditions collegiate best – regardless of wind reading – but when the officials confirmed it to be +1.0 m/s – well within the allowable +2.0 m/s realm – Davis could celebrate her second collegiate record in as many weeks. Carol Lewis of Houston turned in the former all-conditions best 37 years ago at 7.03m (23-0¾).
Davis’ record leap came in Round 4, but to get to Round 4, she had to dig deep in Round 3 after two fouls. What transpired was a legal 6.97m (22-10½) effort that stood as the best jump by a collegiate woman since 1985 and tied the second-best mark in collegiate history.