OTC Elite’s Ashton Eaton wins U.S. long jump title

ALBUQUERQUE -- Ashton Eaton went into Sunday’s USA Indoor long jump final in want of a new personal record.

He left Albuquerque with that coveted PB of 8.06 meters/26 feet, 5 ½ inches, and as a fun bonus, he won the national title. Most importantly though, the Oregon Track Club Elite athlete will head into the IAAF World Indoor Championships healthy and prepared to defend his world record in the indoor heptathlon March 9-10 in Istanbul, Turkey.

It took Eaton three jumps to get on the board, but once he did the 24-year-old Bend, Oregon native put on quite the air show, inching by leader Will Claye’s mark of 8.02 (26-3 ¾).

“I felt really good,” Eaton said. “I knew it was going to be far, but I didn’t know how far. It just timed up. And it was good that it happened on my third jump, because in the multi-events you only get three jumps.”

Eaton will return home to Eugene before traveling to Turkey at the end of the week to prepare for his first World Indoor Championship event.

“I feel ready,” Eaton said about the meet. “I’m healthy, I’m competing well, and those are the two things you need.”

Eaton’s world record of 6,568 points in the heptathlon was set in Estonia last February.

OTC teammate Russell Brown also competed on Sunday in the 1,500 meters, which was won by Leo Manzano. Eaton’s former University of Oregon teammates Matthew Centrowitz and Galen Rupp, were second and third respectively.

Rupp won the Visa Championship Series, while Chaunte Lowe, who set an American Record in the high jump at 2.02m/6-7 ½, won the women’s Visa award.

Eaton will be joined by OTC Elite athlete and 2011 World Outdoor Champion Jesse Williams in Turkey. Williams won his third straight U.S. title in the high jump on Saturday.

See www.otcelite.com for more information.

Becky Radliff

OTC Elite Media Relations

becky.otcelite@gmail.com