Jesse Williams wins men's high jump
USC alum Jesse Williams jumped 7 feet 6 1/2 inches today to win the men's high jump at the U.S. Olympic track and field trials.
Joining him on the U.S. team are Andra Manson, who tied for second with Jamie Nieto.
Nieto, however, along with the fourth- and fifth-place finishers, lacked the Olympic qualifying standard. And that left the last spot open for Dusty Jonas from the University of Nebraska.
Jonas had tied for sixth but won the last spot on the team by winning a jump-off.
Williams' personal best of 7 feet 7 3/4 inches came last year at the Trojan Invitational, a mark that propelled him to a No. 8 world ranking last year and the No. 1 ranking in the U.S.
-- Debbie Goffa
Photo: Jesse Williams celebrates in the men's high jump final at the track and field trials.
Credit: Matthew Stockman / Getty Images
I went to high school with Jess back in Raleigh, NC and I've built him up a fan club in Iraq where I'm currently stationed now. Go Jesse!!
Posted by: Andrew | July 05, 2008 at 09:22 PM
Way to go Jesse! Good luck to you in Beijing this summer.
Fight On!
Posted by: Tristan | July 07, 2008 at 09:58 AM
Go Jessie, from your family in New Zealand...
Frank and Marian..
Posted by: Frank and Marian Hay | July 08, 2008 at 05:17 PM