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Ex-Rowlett star Goodwin captures long jump national championship
By DEVIN HASSON, dhasson@starlocalnews.com
The best collegiate track and field athletes in the country embarked on Des Moines, Iowa last week for the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships and former Rowlett standout Marquise Goodwin once again rose above the competition.
Goodwin, a junior at The University of Texas, won the national championship in the long jump with a mark of 27-00. That was easily enough to outdistance Damar Forbes of LSU, who finished second at 26-6 ½.
"It feels great," Goodwin said. "First of all, giving all honor to God, without him there wouldn't be me, my parents, my mom, my coaches and my teammates. (I have) a great supporting cast out here. It was a great day to compete out here. There were a lot of great competitors out here jumping that beat me before, but I just felt it today and went out there and got it done."
He was again busy last Wednesday, juggling three events. In addition to his long jumping duties, Goodwin also qualified in the 100 meters and as part of the Longhorns' 400 relay team.
But his main focus was on the long jump and he set the tone from the start with an opening jump of 26-10 ½.
That would have been good enough to take first place, but Goodwin was taking no chances. On his sixth and final jump, he extended his personal best to seal the national title.
"I've lost it on the last jump before, I've lost it in the finals before, so you always have to compete all six jumps," Goodwin said. "That's why they give you six jumps, three in the prelim and three in the final. Some guys are still trying to prove themselves coming into finals, so you can never let up, especially with the college athletes that competed today. I just remained poised and I just went out there and attacked and did what I needed to do and I came out successful."
Goodwin was not the only athlete with local ties that was competing at the national championships.
Kyle Clemons, another multi-event member of Rowlett's state championship teams, competed for Kansas University. The junior finished 11th in the 400 meters and was also a part of the 1,600 relay team that took 12th.
Another Rowlett graduate, Jesica Ejesieme, is part of the University of Illinois team. After qualifying 14th in the 400 hurdles, the sophomore improved on that time by placing 10th in the event.
Ejesieme was also an alternate on the Jayhawks' 1,600 relay team that placed second.
Poteet graduate Veronica Jones, currently a sophomore at TCU, was part of the 400 relay team. Jones, who ran the lead leg, helped the Horned Frogs to a 12th-place finish.
Another TCU sophomore, Skye Dawson, attended school at Poteet and then graduated from Dallas Christian. Dawson was part of the Horned Frogs' 400 relay team that placed 11th.
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