Lewis’ NCAA Mark Broken in Long Jump
EL PASO — Arkansas’ Erick Walder jumped 28 feet 8 1/4 inches on Saturday at the Texas El Paso Invitational to break Carl Lewis’ 13-year-old college long jump record by 4 3/4 inches.
Walder, a two-time NCAA outdoor champion and a three-time indoor champion, came to UTEP hoping the 3,600-foot altitude would help his chances.
“I came out here hoping to beat 28 feet, but I didn’t think for a while I would do well,” Walder said.
“As I got rested, I got to jumping better.”
The wind gusted all day, then died to 1.99 meters per hour, under the limit of two meters per hour, as Walder began his approach.
While at Houston, Lewis leaped 28-3 1/2 at Sacramento in 1981 to set the old mark. Mike Powell holds the world record of 29-4 1/2, set at the World Championships in Tokyo in 1991.
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