University of Tennessee Athletics
Pinnock and McLeod Finish 1-2 in Men’s Long Jump, Pinnock Wins National Title
March 12, 2022 | Track & Field
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Freshman Wayne Pinnock won the men's long jump national title Friday night at the 2022 NCAA Indoor National Championships at the Birmingham CrossPlex.
Pinnock captured the title on his fifth jump, going 7.92m (26-0) and tying his season-best leap. It is the first national title for the Kingston, Jamaica, native in his first NCAA meet. With his victory, Pinnock brings home Tennessee's first individual national title since Christian Coleman won four NCAA titles between the indoor and outdoor National Championships in 2017.
Pinnock's title is Tennessee's 26th individual indoor national championship in program history.
Joining Pinnock on the podium Friday night was teammate and fellow Kingston native Carey McLeod. McLeod placed second on the medal stand with a leap of 7.91m (25-11.5). McLeod now has three top-3 finishes in the horizontal jumps at the indoor championships after placing third in both the long and triple jump in 2021.
With the Volunteer 1-2 finish, it is the first time teammates have finished 1-2 on the podium in the men's long jump since 1985.
"Today was a historic day for the Tennessee Vols," director of track & field/cross country Beth Alford-Sullivan said. "Both Wayne and Carey were jumping for the win and competing really well against some of the nation's best jumpers. It was a really exciting event and I give a lot of credit to our assistant coach Nick Newman. He has done an excellent job with both Carey and Wayne and played a large role in today's success. I am so proud of both of our jumpers. Carey has been a great mentor to Wayne, leading him through practice and competition – being someone Wayne can lean on. Wayne has been persistent through this season's trials and put together one of his best jumps this year for the win. I have nothing but respect for them and I am thrilled to see them succeed.
ADVANCING TO FINALS
Favour Ashe punched his ticket to finals in the men's 60-meter dash Friday as he threw down a scorching time of 6.51 seconds in prelims. The time makes him the top overall qualifier heading into Saturday's final.
Ashe's time is a personal best and breaks his own freshman record in the event. The Ughelli, Nigeria, native is Tennessee's third-fastest performer all-time in the 60m dash.
The 60m dash final starts at 4:10 p.m. ET.
SOTO OPENS UP
Yariel Soto opened up competition Friday in the heptathlon and sits 10th overall after four events with 3,196 points. Soto notched two personal bests on the day, beginning in the 60-meter dash as he turned in a time of 6.96 seconds.
Soto leaped 7.35m (24-1.5) in the long jump before scoring his second PB of the day in the shot put with a heave of 13.18m (43-3). The Hatillo, Puerto Rico, native closed day one in the heptathlon with a clearance of 1.91m (6-3.25) in the high jump.
Action in the heptathlon resumes Saturday at 11:30 a.m. ET, starting with the 60m hurdles.
ALL-AMERICANS
Wayne Pinnock and Carey McLeod both earned First-Team All-America honors with their first and second-place finishes in the men's long jump Friday night. McLeod's honor makes him a six-time Division I All-American.
Emmanuel Bynum joined his fellow Vols in earning All-America honors as he picked up second-team recognition with his 12th-place finish in the men's 200-meter. Bynum ran the race in 21.25 seconds.
For the women, Charisma Taylor earned second-team honors in the long jump and 60-meter hurdles. Taylor placed 12th in the 60m hurdles at 8.07 and finished 15th in the long jump at 6.15m (20-2.25). Joella Lloyd also picked up second-team accolades with her 14th-place finish in the women's 60-meter dash. Lloyd crossed the line in 7.21 seconds, tying her season-best.
PR TRACKER
Yariel Soto – Heptathlon 60m – 6.96
Yariel Soto – Heptathlon Shot Put – 13.18m (43-3)
Favour Ashe – Men's 60m – 6.51 – Freshman Record – 3rd in Tennessee History
UP NEXT
Tennessee returns to action at the 2022 NCAA Indoor National Championships tomorrow with six individual athletes competing in six events. The Vols 4x400-meter relay also takes center stage Saturday to close out the men's championship meet. The final three events of the heptathlon begin the day for UT at 11:30 a.m.
Players Mentioned
