2015 NCAA Men's Triple Jump Preview
2015 NCAA Men's Triple Jump Preview
Marquis Dendy, Florida (PB 16.52m)
Last Year: N/A Indoors, 1st Outdoors
Dendy didn’t even qualify for the triple jump indoors, but he somehow managed to turn it around outdoors and won the NCAA title. His victory completed a historic double for the Florida junior, who became the first person to sweep the long and triple jumps since 2002. Dendy was fourth in the indoor triple in 2013, so it appears that his inability to qualify in 2014 was just an anomaly.
Felix Obi, Baylor (PB 16.59m)
Last Year: 1st Indoors, N/A Outdoors
Felix Obi is the defending indoor champion, but he did not jump outdoors in 2014. We’re not sure if it was due to injury or just simply redshirting, but Obi will have to go through Dendy if he wants to regain his crown. The Baylor sophomore jumped a new PB of 16.59m to win the title in 2014, but he’ll have to be even better in 2015 to repeat. Marquis Dendy looms.
Jonathan Reid, Florida St. (PB 16.32m)
Last Year: 3rd Indoors, N/A Outdoors
Reid jumped a new PB of 16.32m in 2014, and completed a successful indoor campaign by finishing third at NCAAs. The Alabama transfer is a consistent indoor performer, as he was 5th in 2013 before moving on to Florida State. The senior-to-be has not experienced similar success outdoors, as he has yet to qualify for the outdoor championships, but perhaps a new school and new coach will buck that trend come spring.
Devin Field, Kansas St. (PB 16.30m)
Last Year: N/A Indoors, 2nd Outdoors
The Kansas State sophomore had an outstanding outdoor season in 2014, jumping a wind-aided mark of 16.46m to finish runner-up at the NCAA championships. Field won his first conference title at the Big 12 championships last spring, and should enter 2015 with a huge amount of confidence. He will need it, as Field has yet to qualify for NCAA indoors.
Phillip Young, Ole Miss (PB 16.30m)
Last Year: N/A Indoors, 10th Outdoors
Young set his PB of 16.30m all the way back in 2012 while he was still at Florida State. That same year, Young finishing sixth at the NCAA indoor championships, and followed that up with a seventh place showing in 2013. Young couldn’t quite find his previous form in his first season as a Rebel, failing to qualify indoors before finishing 10th in Eugene. We expect Young to be much more competitive in his second year in Oxford.
Jeremiah Green, Alabama (PB 16.29m)
Last Year: 7th Indoors, N/A Outdoors
The Alabama freshman shocked the SEC by winning the conference title indoors. Green jumped a massive PB of 16.29 in 2014, but he fell off dramatically outdoors, failing to jump further than 14.98m all spring. His lackluster outdoor season could work in his favor, however, as he surely learned that there are no off days at the NCAA level. Failing to qualify outdoors will serve at motivation for Green to have a stellar 2015.