United States long jumper Tara Davis-Woodhall began her bid to challenge Germany's defending Olympic champion Malaika Mihambo with a strong performance in the qualifiers on Tuesday. Davis-Woodhall's solid showing sets the stage for a competitive final, as she aims to improve upon her previous performances and secure gold in Paris.
Malaika Mihambo, who struggled with fouls on her first two attempts, managed a jump of 6.86 meters on her final try, placing her just behind Italy's Larissa Iapichino in third. Despite these issues, Mihambo, who leads the world rankings with a 7.22-meter jump achieved in June, remains a formidable contender. Her recent comeback from a hamstring injury has demonstrated her capability to perform at the highest level.
Davis-Woodhall, who boasts a season-best jump of 7.18 meters, showed her readiness by impressing the Stade de France crowd with a first attempt of 6.64 meters, which she improved to 6.90 meters on her second try. The 25-year-old, who earned silver at the World Championships last year and finished sixth in Tokyo, expressed her excitement about advancing to the final and enjoying the competition.
Nigeria's Ese Brume, the bronze medalist from Tokyo, qualified for the final with a jump of 6.76 meters, while Jasmine Moore, who secured bronze in the triple jump for the US, made the cut with a 6.66-meter jump. To advance to the final, athletes needed to achieve a minimum of 6.75 meters or be among the top 12 performers, ensuring a high level of competition for the final scheduled on Thursday.
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