Former LSU All-American Walter Davis added the U.S. outdoor triple jump crown to his NCAA long jump and triple jump titles with a school and Southeastern Conference record jump of 17.59m (57-8 1/2) on Sunday at the 2002 USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships at Stanford’s Cobb Track and Angell Field.
Because the jump occurred before Sept. 1 following the completion of Davis’ eligibility and because it was wind-legal (1.8 mps), he will be credited with the school and conference records. He broke his own record of 56-10 3/4 set at the 2002 NCAA Outdoor Championships.
Davis, who led LSU to the 2002 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field National Championship, was a nine-time All-American in his two seasons at LSU and a four-time national champion. He won four NCAA triple jump titles — both indoor and outdoor in 2001 and 2002 — while completing the horizontal jump double at this year’s outdoor championships in Baton Rouge with a leap of 26-6 1/4 in the long jump.
National indoor champ Tim Rusan was second with a wind-aided 17.30m (56-9.25), and LeVar Anderson –the 1999 NCAA triple jump champion while at LSU — was third with a windy 16.74m (54-11.25).
Davis’ mark was the second best in the world this year, bettering his mark and behind only Kenta Bell who jumped 57-10 1/4 on April 21.
On the women’s side, LSU juniors-to-be Stephanie Durst (23.14) and Muna Lee (23.16) finished 3-4 behind Marion Jones and Kelli White. Jones won her fifth straight U.S. 200m title with a time of 22.35, holding off White in 22.50. Jones’ time was the second-fastest in the world in 2002 behind her own 22.32 and was her second win of the meet after her 100m win on Saturday.
Durst and Lee finished ahead of four fellow collegiates in the finals at the USA Outdoor Championships on Sunday. The duo also finished 3-4 at the NCAA Outdoor Championships on June 1 at LSU.