Dwight Phillips 8.45 in Daegu - 4th World Title
>> September 03, 2011
American Dwight Phillips successfully retained his world title at long jump, leaping 8.45 (0.0) at the IAAF Word championships in Daegu on September 02, 2011.
The 33-year-old (turning 34 on October) came to Daegu with poor mark 8.07 +0.4 set in Shanghai in May, and only improved on the distance during the qualification rounds in Daegu with a leap of 8.32 -0.2. But his best jump in the finals just to make sure the fourth world title which he won since 2003, 2005, and 2009. The poor season in 2007 denied Phillips to win his third consecutive victory in world championships, saw Panama's Irving Saladino won the gold medal in 8.57.
With the victory, Phillips equaled Ivan Pedroso's feat who has won the world championships four times in 1995, 1997, 1999 and 2001. Carl Lewis won the first and second World championships (1983 and 1987), the next two won by Mike Powell (1991- 8.95 WR, and 1993).
Mitchell Wall, the Australian hope with four longest jumps in the world (8.54 world leader, 8.45, 8.44 & 8.44) before the championships only managed to leap 8.33 (+0.4) in his second attempt for silver medal. Bronze medal was won by Makusha of Zimbabwie in a distance of 8.29 (+0.3). Makusha's personal best is 8.40m and has run 9.89s in the 100m.
Interestingly, Phillips was perhaps randomly assigned bib number " 1 1 1 1" - which means four times world champion ?!. The 2004 Olympic champion will be hunting for another gold medal in London Olympics next year.
Video of Long Jump Men Finals (Dwight Phillips 8.45) - IAAF World Championships
