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LetsRun.com's 2009 IAAF Berlin World Championships Preview Men's Long Jump When: August 22 (finals), 20 (qualifiers) 2009 has been a year of revival for the men's long jump. Lacking top rivalries and American performers for the past several years, in 2009 the world's long jump fans have been treated to a back-and-forth contest between America's Dwight Phillips and Panama's Irving Saladino, as well as top performances from nearly every other continent. Phillips, an Olympic and world champion several times over, almost was out of the sport just a year ago. Overweight and nonplussed, he failed to make the 2008 Beijing team for the US and fell completely off the radar. But Phillips found the motivation and inspiration to get himself in the best shape of his life in 2009. He has been rewarded handsomely with some enormous jumps, including his 8.74m launch at Prefontaine that vaulted him to #5 all-time in the world. He has won almost every competition this year minus two second-place finishes in Hengelo and Lausanne and will enter Berlin as a close favorite. Second favorite will be Panama's Saladino. Sporting a career best only 1 cm behind Phillips, the reigning world and Olympic champion has clearly been inferior this year, losing to Phillips at Pre despite his seasonal best 8.63m jump and falling to defeats in most of his competitions outdoors thus far. In the long jump, it only takes one brilliant run and jump to win the gold, and therefore Saladino can not be counted out, especially with all the world watching. He has pulled out of a contest or two lately, so one has to wonder about his overall fitness heading in to the championships. Behind the top 2 are some excellent jumpers from around the world. Europe's best is Sebastian Bayer, who turned heads with his 8.71m jump to win the European indoor championships this winter. From South Africa comes the African record-holder Godfrey Mokoena, a multi-time world medalist and almost certain medal threat in 2009. From Australia come Mitchell Watt and Fabrice Lapierre, both having great 2009 seasons with top 10 placings on the world lists. LRC Predictions: Men's Long Jump Stats By LRC Guru John Kellogg 8.74 Dwight Phillips (USA) (= #5 all-time, = #4 all-time USA) Gold medal in 2005 World Championships, gold medal in 2004 Olympic Games, gold medal in 2003 World Championships, gold medal in 2003 World Indoor Championships, bronze medal in 2007 World Championships, 8th in 2001 World Championships, 8th in 2000 Olympic Games
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Runner's World &
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