Kynard, Henderson and Kendricks Among Favorites

By Scott Bush

Experience meets youth in the men's horizontal and vertical jumps at the USATF Outdoor Track and Field Championships this week in Eugene. We break down the favorites in the long, triple and high jumps, as well as the pole vault.

Men's Jumps

High Jump

Olympic silver medalist Erik Kynard continues to progress this season back to competing among the world’s very best and has high hopes for a medal in Beijing. But first, he must beat a young and talented field at the USATF Outdoor Championships. Kynard owns a season’s best 2.35m (7-8.5), which earned him a third place finish at the Pre Classic and finished third in Oslo earlier this season, too. He’s the man to beat.

Trying to upset Kynard a trio of collegiate athletes. Texas Tech teammates JaCorian Duffield and Bradley Adkins placed 1-2 at the NCAA Outdoor Championships in the event, with Duffield owning a best of 2.31m (7-7). He’s ranked ninth in the world, tied with Texas A&M Kingsville star Jeron Robinson, who won his third straight DII national title earlier this month.

Throw in Arizona State senior Bryan McBride, who’s cleared 2.30m (7-6.5) and you have four athletes who’ve gone over 2.30m this season. 

Notable veterans Ricky Robertson, Jesse Williams and Nick Ross are each fully capable of challenging for a top three finish, too.

Long Jump

The most intriguing of the jumps this weekend in Eugene, there are a half dozen athletes capable of finishing top three, with a special appearance from decathlon world record holder Ashton Eaton.

While defending champion Jeff Henderson looks to repeat in Eugene, and enters with a world leading best of 8.50m (27-10.75), he’s not lock for the title. Henderson has been mighty quiet since his world leading leap back in mid-April. It remains to be seen what type of shape he’s in, but his marks from last year and consistency in major competitions keep him the pre-event favorite.

Henderson’s top challenger could very well be University of Florida’s Marquis Dendy, who is ranked fourth in the world currently with a wind-legal mark of 8.34m (27-4.25). Dendy won both the NCAA Outdoor long jump and triple jump titles earlier this month and has seemed nearly unbeatable in 2015.

2014 runner-up Jarrion Lawson of Arkansas was runner-up to Dendy at NCAAs and owns a similar best of 8.34m for the season, while Michael Hartfield ranks seventh in the world with his best leap of 8.27m (27-1.5) and beat Henderson head-to-head already this season.

The four men already named enter as the top four favorites, but you can never overlook Will Claye and Christian Taylor. Claye, who won the USATF Indoor title this year, is always a man to watch, while Taylor will only focus on the long jump this weekend having won gold at the World Championships in 2013 in the triple jump and has already qualified for the World Championships in Beijing.

As if that wasn’t enough, Ashton Eaton, who similarly automatically qualified for the World Championships having won in Moscow in 2013, is ready to improve his personal best in the long jump. A top five finish might be out of the question for Eaton, but don’t be surprised if he competes for a top eight finish.

Triple Jump

With no Christian Taylor in the field, the men’s triple jump is a two-man competition for the win, at least on paper. Will Claye enters with loads of experience on his side and the world’s fifth best leap of 17.38m (57-0.25). While Claye owns the veteran edge, Marquis Dendy owns the better seasonal best of 17.50m (57-5), good for third best in the world, and won the NCAA Outdoor Championships with a +2.4 wind of 17.71 (58-1.25).

Claye and Dendy are the easy favorites, but the third Team USA roster spot is wide open. Brandon Roulhac, Donald Scott and Omar Craddock ranks US#3-5, with Scott finishing third at the NCAA Outdoor Championships, Craddock winning the USATF indoor title and Benard finishing second in Boston at indoors. Throw in Chris Carter and you have five guys fighting for one spot.

Pole Vault

Defending champion Sam Kendricks is having one heck of a 2015 season. The 2014 national champion heads to Eugene with a repeat on the mind. The former Ole Miss standout was the 2015 indoor national champion, ranks fourth best in the world with a best of 5.82m (19-1.25) and has cleared 5.80m (19-.25) two other times. He finished second to world record holder Renaud Lavillenie and seems poised to challenge for a medal in Beijing.

While Kendricks is the shining star of American vaulting, American record holder Brad Walker seeks another team berth. He ranks as the second best American in 2015 with a seasonal best of 5.70m (18-8.5). Walker ranks ahead of young pros Andrew Irwin and Jack Whitt, and should find himself in a battle with Peter Geraghty and Reece Watson, too. Each of those five contenders own seasonal bests of 5.60m (18-4.5) or better.

The darkhorse in the field is Mark Hollis. While Hollis’ seasonal best is only 5.40m (17-8.5), he comes off a 2014 season where he placed second at the USATF Outdoor Championships and soared over a big personal best of 5.83m (19-1.5). If he’s on his game, he’ll challenge Kendricks.