Bougard comes up big on final jump

A day after winning pentathlon title, former NCAA champion at Mississippi State delivers indoor personal-best long jump to prevail in last round in Albuquerque

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

Erica Bougard continued one of the most successful weekends of her track and field career Saturday at the USATF Indoor Championships in Albuquerque, N.M.

Bougard delivered a final-round leap of 21 feet, 1.50 inches (6.44m) to win the long jump title after capturing the pentathlon championship Friday at Albuquerque Convention Center.

The 2013 NCAA indoor pentathlon champion at Mississippi State became the first female athlete in meet history to capture both the long jump and pentathlon titles in the same year.

Bougard followed Mike Conley, who won the long jump and triple jump in 1986, by winning two field event titles at the same meet.

Bougard produced a first-round leap of 21-0.50 (6.41m) and held the advantage until the last round, when Jessie Gaines 21-0.75 (6.42m) took the lead on the penultimate jump.

Bougard, who had jumped 21-1.25 (6.43m) in Arkansas in 2013, responded with a personal-best effort on the last jump to capture the title.