Mike Powell calls his shot: M40 world long jump record
Babe Ruth called his shot nearly 75 years ago. Or maybe not. But there’s no question that Mike Powell, the longest jumper in history, is predicting his own blast. An age-group world record. This time, it won’t be Tokyo. It may be Modesto, as he promises on his Web site, or it may be in Germany, as he told the IAAF this week. Of course, Mike once said he’d jump in the 2004 Olympic Trials. He didn’t. And that he’d get the M40 record in 2006. Not so, either. But you can’t fault a guy for having a fire in the belly. Go get it, Mike!
At the Mt. SAC Relays earlier this month, I videotaped a short interview with Mike, and we talked about his latest comeback — how he’s rehabbing a minor leg injury but still planning to jump at Modesto. And how Willie Banks has encouraged him to enter masters meets.
But no mention of his immediate record intentions.
I’ll get the video up eventually.
It’ll be nice if he breaks the M40 world record (25-2 1/2 by Aaron Sampson in 2002), since Aaron jumped at 5,800-foot elevation at Cedar City, Utah, in 2002. Modesto is nearly sea level. Of course, this wouldn’t be the first time Mike broke a long jump record set at elevation. Remember Bob Beamon?
Anyway, here’s the meat of the IAAF report:
Sixteen years later, Powell, who admits that his weight can be problematic – he has been as heavy as 104kg (230lbs), when his jumping weight was 75kg (165lbs) – has his eye on another World record, for Veterans or Masters, currently held by Aaron Sampson of the USA, at 7.68m.
“I’ve been wanting to do it for the last couple of years, but it’s difficult to train as well as to coach. I started to train about two months ago and the first thing I had to do was lose some weight, to get down from 100kg and my goal was around 85kg.
“I was well on my way, and I was in training and jumping over seven metres over half of an approach and based on that, from a full approach I would have been capable of going over 7.40m and I figured, okay, another 5kg or so and I’d be ready to jump over 7.60m.
“Then one day when I was in training, I did a plyometric workout I wouldn’t have my top jumpers do. But I was feeling so good, I felt like my old self and I was running 60 metres, and I said, I feel great, and I did a little bit more and I felt something at the back of my knee, and the next morning it was the size of a grapefruit. That was two and a half weeks ago, and it still hasn’t healed completely, it’s taking its time.
“My goal was to go after the record at the Modesto Relays on May 5, but now I think I’m going to wait till the summer, probably at Bad Langensalza in Germany, a small jumps meet, because I want to break the world masters’ record there.”
3 Responses
I had the privilege to spend a week with Mike at the Powell-Powell throwing and jumping camp in LA last summer. He looked very impressive and doesn’t look like he lost a step. My money says that he breaks the M40 world record this year.
Tom Fahey M59 thrower
I don’t deal in negativity, that is a big reason why I broke the world record. I’m pissed off, I am a husband, a dad and a coach, and at least I am still directly invovled in the sport, unlike a lot of other former stars of the sport. I am a track geek and I always will be.
MP
WR
8.95
I heard you were training youth in Irvine this summer but I can’t find info I also wrote you a letter to the olympic commitee could not find an address e-mail or otherwise to write to you I do football basketball soccor field hockey la crosse done with baseball bowl ice hockey for fun lead in drama commercials last year I discovered long jump 19.1 this year I added high 3months 5.6 3 monthd hurdells I am fast and smooth my coaches all love me and I respect them I am finishing up 8th grade religous poet I will be great at a sport wrestling swimming and rugby are next I run with the best of them I started sports 5 years ago aaaaaaaat 11 I went to Holland to play soccor I have traveled a lot for my age 15 RESPECTFULLY CAMERON SINCLAIR MASON 805-5220511 1241 drake dr. simi valley ca.93065
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