University of North Carolina Athletics
Long Jump Doesn't Faze Marion
September 18, 2000 | Track & Field
Sept. 18, 2000
By Rick Brewer
SID Emeritus
The long jump.
It is the event about which Marion Jones gets the most questions.
Possibly, because of that, it is the event that is the most exciting to her as her date with destiny at this year's Summer Olympics approaches. The track and field competition begins late this week at this year's Games and Jones, of course, will be trying for an unprecedented five Gold Medals in a single Olympiad.
"I'm looking forward to all the competition in Sydney," she said last month. "But, I think the long jump is particularly special to me because it is the big question in the minds of most people. That's where people think my chance for failure is the greatest."
Jones has unlimited talent in the long jump, but critics have questioned her form and training for the event. The second-guessing of her training methods bothers her more than anything. However, she understands that is only natural because she has had problems with the long jump.
Still, she has confidence she will be ready to jump well in Sydney. She also thinks the track and field schedule in Sydney will help erase some of the problems she has had with the long jump in the past.
Her first competition will be the first and second rounds of the 100 meters this Friday, Sept. 22. Semifinals and finals in the 100 are the following day. She is then off until the 27th. That's when she has the first and second round of the 200 meters and the long jump preliminaries. The 200 semifinals and finals are Sept. 28.
Long jump finals are Sept. 29, along with the opening rounds of the 4x100 and 4x400 relays. Relay finals are Sept. 30.
"One of my biggest problems in the past has been running the 100 and immediately walking over to the long jump pit and trying to adjust to that speed," she said. "I can't go out in the pit and run 10.69 down the runway and think that when I hit the board everything is going to be place. I need to be more relaxed and comfortable on the runway so I can concentrate on my form.
"Fortunately, I won't have to juggle the 100 and the long jump any of the days in Australia. I won't have to worry about transferring my 100 speed to the runway, so that's a plus. I will be running the 200, but those will be the early rounds."
She's hoping that she can save her strength in those 200 preliminaries and get on to the next round. Plus, there's a chance she could nail a great long jump early to qualify for the finals.
Marion's biggest day may be Sept. 29. That's the day of the long jump finals and the opening rounds and semi-finals of the relays. In fact, the 4x400 relay is scheduled to begin at 6:40 p.m. with the long jump at 7:20 p.m. and the 4x100 semifinals at 8:20. She could sit out the early rounds of the relays and work on relay coordination in practice sessions. Still, she knows it would be helpful to be on the track.
"The last time I ran a 4x400 relay leg was probably at Carolina my sophomore year," she said. "But, I ran that relay in high school and loved it. Plus, if I have won four Gold Medals by the time of the relay finals, I'll be running on adrenaline by then."
Personally, Jones felt a bigger challenge would be Sept. 28 when she has the 200 semifinals and finals. Depending on her semifinal heat, she might have to come back in 90 minutes for the finals. She found that especially draining at the U.S. Olympic Trials.
"I like to set a rhythm in the semis," she said. "You need to put out a time, set your race up and run fast. So it's going to be interesting to see how my mind plays with that semi-final race of the 200, knowing I'm going to have to come back fairly quickly and run the race of my life. That's going to be a challenge."
But, Jones has overcome plenty of challenges in the past. After injuring her back in last year's World Championships in Seville, she wondered whether her Olympic dream would ever be a reality.
"Seville was definitely devastating," she said. "I began to question myself after getting hurt in the 200. But, the doctors reassured me I was fine. I learned a lesson there--`Listen to me body. Take care of myself.' There's more at stake now."
Although Jones has become the cover girl of magazines all over the world, some feel she is not as popular within the world of track itself.
"I don't know about that," she said with her familiar smile. "My personality hasn't changed with my success. I have heard people say I don't seem to have a great relationship with my competitors.
"Well, it is tough to be buddy-buddy with the people who want to beat you. I think my relationship with the other sprinters and long jumpers is one of respect. But, I don't want to chit-chat when I'm getting ready to compete against them."
She's not along in that regard. Few great athletes do.
And Jones certainly falls into that category. Regardless of what happens in Sydney, she has become one of the premier female athletes in the world.
Depending on how well she performs there, she could be recognized as one of the greatest of all time. However, she has some work to do before that can happen. That work starts later this week.
But, what she does next week in the long jump may be the key to her legacy for the next four years. Others may have their doubts, but it's an event she's approaching with excitement and anticipation.
