Archives > Sports Update
Print
E-mail
Comment
Rate
RSS
Share
LONDON BOUND: Goodwin wins long jump to qualify for 2012 Summer Olympics
By DEVIN HASSON, dhasson@starlocalnews.com
After winning the long jump as a sophomore at the Class 5A state track and field meet in 2007, Marquise Goodwin said that one of his goals was to one day compete in the Olympics.
At that time, it was a distant dream.
Last Sunday, Goodwin made it a reality.
Goodwin, who also won the event at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships earlier this month, becomes the first collegian to win the NCAA and Olympic Trials in the same year since 1960.
He will represent the United States at the 2012 Summer Olympics, which are set for July 27-Aug. 12 in London.
"First of all, honors to God because without Him there is no we," Goodwin said. "Everybody came focused today and that's when the biggest jumps came."
Goodwin qualified in 10th place, but took the early lead in the finals by posting a mark of 26-05 ¾ on his first jump.
He slipped into fourth place briefly, but quickly vaulted back into the lead with a mark of 27-00 on his third attempt.
While that would have been enough to win the event, Goodwin was not taking any chances. On his final jump, he put an exclamation point on the victory with his personal record-setting mark, much to the delight of the 21,000 in attendance.
"I love Oregon, I always have good results here," Goodwin said. "There is a real great audience ... This is Track Town."
While Goodwin's victory might have been a surprise to some, it is not to those that have tracked his progress since bursting onto the scene by winning the state title as a sophomore in high school.
By the time his high school career was over, Goodwin was a seven-time state champion, including three straight years in the long jump, and he helped lead Rowlett to back-to-back team state titles.
Goodwin was named the Texas Gatorade Track and Field Athlete of the Year in both 2008 and 2009.
In his final competition before joining the collegiate ranks, Goodwin won the World Junior Championship, with his mark of 26-10 setting the national high school record.
Goodwin made an immediate splash at Texas. Not only did he work his way into a contributor on the football team at wide receiver as a true freshman, he also won the NCAA title at the Outdoor Championships.
Goodwin battled some injuries during his sophomore season, but was still able to win the Big 12 championship in the long jump.
This year, he has steadily improved throughout the course of the season, culminating with the NCAA and Olympic Trials victories.
With those goals accomplished, Goodwin can now turn his attention to the best athletes in the world in London as he realizes a dream he envisioned years ago.
The following are comments from the readers.
In no way do they represent the view of Starlocalnews.com
In no way do they represent the view of Starlocalnews.com
You must register with a valid email to post comments.
Only your Member ID will be posted with the comments.
Only your Member ID will be posted with the comments.
Registered users sign in here:
Become a Registered User
- Return to: Sports Update «
- Home «
- Top of Page ^
