The woman who wanted to finish a record last century

Women’s long is one of the most timeless athletic disciplines. The 12 best marks in history were achieved in the last century and to find the best jump of the last decade you have to go to the 39th place in the all-time ranking, when the American Britney Reese He jumped, in 2016, 7.31 meters. The world record is a holy grail that has been inaccessible since 1988, when the Soviet -yes, the USSR was still alive- Galina Chistyakova jumped 7.52 meters.

However, the possibility of rewriting the history of the women’s long is still alive, especially with the World Athletics project to test a new regulation that allows scores to be counted from the take-off point and not from the clay. With or without that change, an American athlete fearlessly ran as a record contender stuck in a time warp. Tara Davis-Woodhall24 years old, flew last weekend in Fayetteville to 7.16, just two centimeters from his personal record, 7.18, achieved in February on an indoor track, and it was also the best jump recorded in the last five year.

At the Fayetteville competition, which was also her outdoor debut this year, Tara cleared 7 meters in her three jumps. He himself announced an important change in his social networks: he changed his usual career of 16 steps to one of 18 steps. And he also said the phrase that no jumper dared to utter in public: “I want the world record.”

Although she still needs to secure a place for the Paris Games at the USA Trials, Davis-Woodhall is, for now, the overwhelming favorite for that Olympic gold to crown a short but brilliant career: outdoor world runner-up in Budapest last year and indoor world champion this winter. He is also the under 20 world record holder in the 60 meter hurdles (7.98) in 2018, although the only focus of his career has been length.

Outgoing and dynamic, Tara became famous in the athletics world for her celebrations, almost always wearing a cowboy hat, and became one of the most notable couples in USA athletics: her husband, Hunter Woodhall, is one of the best Paralympic athletes in the country. Cut off both legs at the knee, just like the famous one Oscar PistoriusHunter holds several national speed records up to 400 meters.

Of course, not everything is rosy. Tara tested positive for cannabis in February, after winning the National Indoor Long Course. Although the substance carries a three-month suspension, USADA reduced it to a one-month penalty, which has been served, because it occurred out of competition and was unrelated to athletic performance. He lost the indoor title and had to complete treatment for drug abuse, but he could now join the Olympic team.