Orji needs clutch final-round leap to edge David, seeking first American women's triple jump medal at World Indoors since 2001

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

It was one leap for history. But it was also a bigger bound for confidence for the challenges that await Georgia senior Keturah Orji in the next two weeks.

Orji became the first female athlete in Southeastern Conference history to win an indoor field event in four consecutive years when she pulled out a dramatic sixth-round triple jump to prevail against an upset-minded Yanis David of Florida at Texas A&M’s Gilliam Indoor Track Stadium.

Orji’s effort of 46-6.25 (14.18m) wasn’t her best at a conference final and well behind her world-leading and American indoor record 47-8 (14.53m) from Jan. 20 at the Clemson Invitational, but it might have been the most clutch jump of her collegiate career, considering David had produced a personal-best 46-3.50 (14.11m) in the final round to take a temporary lead.

“It means a lot. It shows consistency, it shows hard work and I’m glad that I’m able to do that,” said Orji, who also took second Saturday in the long jump with a leap of 21-5.25 (6.53m).

“I’ve just got to keep working harder and improve upon that mark at NCAAs. It just reminds me to stay relaxed and just remember what I’ve done in the past because we’ve trained very hard.”

But this year, Orji’s training won’t just be for the SEC and NCAA Division 1 indoor finals, but also a trip to the IAAF World Indoor Championships during the week in between to compete Saturday in Birmingham, U.K.

Orji placed fourth at the 2016 World Indoors in Portland, Ore., with a leap of 46-4.75 (14.14m).

“In early February, (coach Petros Kyprianou and I) started talking about it. Since I’m ranked so high in the world right now, maybe I should give it a shot going there, even though it’s in between the two big meets,” said Orji, who is trying to become the first American female athlete to medal in the World Indoor triple jump since Tiombe Hurd captured bronze in 2001.

“I don’t think if I had a lesser mark, that we would be focused on that because of the timing. I think it’s just because I have a big mark out there and I want to be able to improve on that and see what I can do against the others.”

Although Orji didn’t compete Feb. 17 at the USATF Indoor Championship in New Mexico, she will join two-time triple jump winner Tori Franklin on the American roster in Birmingham.

“We both know what a challenge it is, but this isn’t just about Keturah’s career at Georgia, but also looking ahead and preparing for her professional career,” Kyprianou said. “My hope is that she goes over there and jumps really well and comes back with a medal, because then she’ll be really happy and ready to come back and have a great meet at NCAAs.”

Orji understands the demands that come with traveling across the Atlantic Ocean and back before the NCAA Division 1 Indoor Championships, but a chance to compete against reigning World Indoor and Outdoor champion Yulimar Rojas of Venezuela was too significant of an opportunity to pass up.

“It’s really exciting. Every time I’ve competed against Rojas, I’ve PR’d, so I’m hoping for another PR there and just to see what I can do against the best of the best,” Orji said. “All three years I’ve given my all to this team and I’m going to continue to give my all to this team, but I also want to go out there and compete for Team USA. I wanted to do that.”

Georgia finished runner-up to four-time SEC indoor champion Arkansas by a 108 to 84.5 margin, but the Bulldogs had seven first- and second-place finishes, including a pair from Orji, compared to the Razorbacks’ five, which projects well at the Division 1 final as Georgia pursues its first NCAA title.

“I think my body can handle it and I’m ready to do what I can for this team,” Orji said. “Hopefully we can do really well at NCAAs.”