Makusha retains NCAA Long Jump title

Zimbabwe's Florida State University sophomore Ngonidzashe Makusha has retained his Long Jump title at the 2009 National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) outdoor track and field championships in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

Makusha, who was the 26th and last wild card invitee in the event - his season's best jump being 7.73 metres, leapt to a modest, by his standards, 8.11 metres to win his second straight individual national championship.

A thankful Makusha said after the jump: "It's such a blessing to be here. To win here, it's like God is doing favors for me. It's just great. It's awesome.

"It was like a roller-coaster. But I was just ready for anything.

I told myself if I get in there, I'm going to give it my best," added Makusha.

The Beijing Olympics fourth-place jumper opened with a jump of 7.71 metres, then 7.96 metres, before sailing to a winning 8.11 on his final jump of the competition. Stanley Gbagbeke of Middle Tennessee State settled for second with a best of 8.00 metres.

Late inclusion

Makusha, who is on an athletics scholarship at Florida State University, was initially left out of the team to the NCAA Championships after struggling to record the qualifying mark for the long jump event at the NCAA East Regional in Greensboro, N.C, and was out of the 20 automatic qualifiers.

But he was later included at the last minute last Thursday when the chairperson of the NCAA track and field committee called FSU head coach Bob Braman to inform him that they leave "three to four spots open for injury purposes" and that Makusha had been selected to fill one of those spots.

Makusha won his first title as a Freshman at 2008 national championships after setting a new FSU and Drake Stadium record with his jump of 8.30 metres.