Juan Miguel Echevarria Debuts With Big Windy Long Jump

By Adam Kopet

Juan Miguel Echevarria opened his 2019 outdoor season Sunday at the Copa Cuba in Havana, according to the IAAF. He took a single jump, leaping out to 29-3.25 (8.92m) with a 3.3m/s tailwind, more than the allowable limit (+2.0m/s) for record and qualifying purposes.

The mark ranks as the fourth best of all-time, regardless of conditions. Mike Powell is the only athlete to have ever jumped farther. He holds the world record at 29-4.25 (8.95m), although he jumped a wind-assisted 29-6 (8.99m) that included a 4.4m/s tailwind.

Echevarria showed big jump ability in 2018 when he jumped a wind-assisted 28-11.75 (8.83m) at the Stockholm Diamond League meeting. In that case, his mark came with a 2.1m/s tailwind.

However, Echevarria's 2018 campaign was cut short with injury. He made his return to competition earlier this year with two wins on the IAAF World Indoor Tour.

Echevarria withdrew from the competition following his big opening jump, citing caution over discomfort in his foot.