Hog Calls

Lawson jumps into Olympic Games

Jarrion Lawson competes in the mens long jump final at the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials, Sunday, July 3, 2016, in Eugene Ore. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Jarrion Lawson competes in the mens long jump final at the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials, Sunday, July 3, 2016, in Eugene Ore. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

FAYETTEVILLE -- Travis Geopfert knew Jarrion Lawson's first meet away from the Razorbacks would be just as special as Lawson's last Razorbacks meet.

It would be nearly impossible to top Lawson's final Razorbacks meet. A 2016 track and field senior (he graduated from Arkansas in 2015 and is now working on a MBA degree), Lawson logged college track's most historic farewell since Jesse Owens in 1936.

In his final NCAA Outdoor meet last month in Eugene, Ore., Lawson became the first since Ohio State's Owens to win the long jump and 100- and 200-meter dashes at the same NCAA Outdoor Championship.

Unique though they are, winning NCAA championships will not advance you to the Olympic Games. A top three finish at the U.S. Olympic Trials will.

Lawson accomplished that and a lifetime best in Sunday's long jump at the U.S. Trials in Eugene, Ore., and still has the U.S. Trials 200-meter dash Thursday.

Soaring 28-1 3/4, and within legal wind conditions for officially the longest jump of the U.S. Trials, Lawson advances to next month's Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Geopfert is Arkansas' men's field events coach under Coach Chris Bucknam. Geopfert, who has continued to coach Lawson since he turned pro with Asics, said Lawson's first jump Sunday was almost as vital as his fourth jump, a first-time 28-plus effort.

Also Sunday, Lawson advanced in the 100-meter semifinals, then ran the 100 final in 10.07, blazing fast but an out-of-the-money seventh.

Fouling the first of his guaranteed three jumps would have had Lawson scrambling to qualify for the long jump final while literally running back and forth to his sprint.

"We told him, 'Jarrion, here is the deal, man,' " Geopfert said. " 'Your first jump has to be fair and it has to be over 26-6 to make sure you are in the final.' That's exactly what he did. He jumped from right behind the board and jumped 26-11 his first attempt. That really set the tone for him."

A 26-11 jump wins the vast majority of meets. It would have placed seventh at this one won by former Sylvan Hills High School 2007 state champion Jeff Henderson's wind-aided 28-2 1/4.

"There were seven guys jumping over 27 feet!" Geopfert said. "That was one of the greatest long jump competitions in world history. And two guys over 28 feet in the same meet? He [Lawson] has to jump 28 feet to make the Olympic team and he flat gets it done."

Though wind-aided, Geopfert did not begrudge Henderson his victory.

"That Henderson is a talent, man," Geopfert said. "I have been around him quite a bit and recruited him and he went to junior college. He is a really nice kid and he is a stud. He can jump farther, too."

Geopfert fervently hopes both the Arkansan by choice and the Arkansan by birth jump even farther for America in Brazil.

Sports on 07/06/2016

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