OXFORD, Miss. – Former University of Mississippi track star Brittney Reese is in good spirits and looking good in workouts leading up to the Olympic women’s long jump competition, including Tuesday’s qualifying rounds and Friday’s main event, said Joe Walker, UM head track coach.
“I think (Brittney) will be ready when the time does come,” Walker blogged from Beijing. “She is a champion in both ability and in poise under pressure. I’ve tried to convince her that she was made for a time like this.”
Local NBC affiliate stations are slated to broadcast coverage of track and field qualifying rounds between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Tuesday (Aug. 19). NBC broadcasts the finals competition of the women’s long jump between 7 and 9 p.m. Friday (Aug. 22).
A former UM track and field athlete, Reese is a four time SEC long jump champion and two time NCAA long jump champion. She has been ranked as the top American long jumper all year.
The long jump has been part of modern Olympic competition since the inception of the games in 1896. The 2008 games in China mark the 80th anniversary that women have been allowed to compete in the long jump at the Olympic level.
Read more from Walker’s blog