Des Moines, Iowa - Only five finals were held yesterday (12 June) at the NCAA championships, but they produced some good performances, especially in the long jumps.

Ngonidzashe Makusa (ZIM) fractured his national record (8.16m, set on May 9) twice in the men’s long jump. His first attempt carried him to 8.25 (+1.6); it was followed by a 7.98 (+1.4) and two passes. But his fifth jump was the piece de resistance – 8.30 into a 1.2 m/s headwind – making him the year’s fourth best performer.

Makusa has caught the college spirit (he is a freshman at Florida State University, and his team won the championship last year).

“This is one of my dreams and it just came true,” he said. “It’s a feeling I’ve never experienced before. To be a national champion my freshman year is really great.”