Pinnock, McLeod have Olympic medals on the brain – Geopfert

WITH A two-three-four finish, Jamaica had its best showing ever in a global men’s long jump final at last year’s World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary, thanks to Wayne Pinnock, Tajay Gayle and Carey McLeod.

Travis Geopfert, who coaches Pinnock and McLeod at the University of Arkansas, says they are training well this year and that both have their eyes on the medals.

Pinnock led all qualifiers with a personal best 8.54 metres and followed that with a silver medal effort of 8.50 in the World Champs final, won by Greek hero Miltiadis Tentoglu at 8.52 metres.

Speaking at the Central Hurdles and Relays meet at G.C. Foster College on Saturday, the coach gave an update on the former Kingston College jumper. “He managed the season really well and I feel like he has picked up this year where he left off last year. His attention to detail on things off the track is at another level, taking care of his body, doing the mobility work that he needs to do, what we call pre-hab type of work, core development, stability stuff with our physios. He’s taking his training to another level,” Geopfert assessed.

Pinnock, 23, and McLeod, 24, who beat Pinnock to win both the NCAA indoor and outdoor titles, have put their shoulders to the wheel with the Olympics just over the horizon in Paris, France.

According to Geopfert, Pinnock and McLeod are hunting spots on the podium.

GOOD COMPETITORS

“I think that taste of success for both of them has changed their mindset just a little bit more, and they’ve always been extremely good competitors. They never went to any major championships, or any event and thought about just participating. That’s not them. That’s not how they’re built. They’re built as competitors, but I will say, I don’t want to speak for them, but I know they’re both eyeing medals. That’s what’s on their minds.”

The only Jamaican to win an Olympic medal in the men’s long jump is James Beckford who took the silver in 1996.

Pinnock finished 2023 as the longest jumper in the world with Tentoglu second, McLeod fifth with 8.40 from the NCAA Indoor Championships. Gayle was number 10 at 8.27 metres.

Jamaica’s 2019 World Champion and McLeod both jumped 8.27 in Budapest with Gayle securing the bronze on countback, 8.17 to 7.90.

McLeod’s bid was also blighted by a freak accident. On one of his jumps, he dramatically twisted his ankle at take-off. “He battled coming off of that jump and still tried to fight through the competition, but he twisted it, but it was an injury that was better in a couple of weeks and he’s training really, really, really well,” Geopfert reassured.

As proof, the coach gave an insight on a recent McLeod training session.

“We did some short approach jumps with him the other day, he jumped 8.40 indoors last year, at the NCAA finals to win it and he’s training better than he was last year at this time, so I’m really pleased,” he explained.

McLeod has completed his collegiate eligibility but continues to train at Arkansas.