Marquis Dendy talks after failing to make finals in long jump at 2015 IAAF Worlds – Hopes Beijing flop will fuel him to double Olympic gold
by LetsRun.com
August 26, 2015
BEIJING – It wasn’t a good 2015 IAAF World Championships for Marquis Dendy. The 7-time NCAA champion failed to make the final in the long jump on Saturday and then this morning he failed to make the final in the triple jump. Dendy’s 16.73m fifth jump tied him for 12th and 12 people make the final, but the IAAF broke the tie by looking at the athletes’ next jump and Dendy was left out of the final.
Dendy came into Worlds with the fourth best jump in the world in both in the long jump (8.39m) and triple jump (17.50m).
Fellow American Will Claye, the reigning world indoor champ and the 2012 Olympic silver medallist, also failed to make the finals.
“I’m still in shock. I don’t even know what happened. It just wasn’t my day. That’s the only way I can see it,” said Claye to USATF after competing. “I went out there and gave it my all. It just wasn’t my day. I have to make my rules and get ready for next season.”
Dendy stopped to talk to us in the mixed zone. He didn’t want to make any excuses about it being a long season and said he’ll use this as motivation to fuel him hopefully to Olympic gold. When we heard him talk of gold, we asked him which event, the long jump or triple jump. Dendy said, “Both.”
Interview below. Triple Jump Qualifying results here.