While he fell short of “finishing the job,” University at Albany junior long jumper Louis Gordon still had a record-breaking performance on Wednesday night at the NCAA outdoor track and field championships at the University of Texas in Austin.
Gordon broke his own school record with a leap of 25 feet, 6 inches and came in 11th, which earned him second-team All-America status.
Gordon had three attempts. He faulted on his first, then went 25-6 on his second to surpass his previous mark of 25-4 3/4. Needing another record to reach the finals, he traveled 25 1 3/4 on his final jump. Only the top nine advanced to the final and top eight made first-team All-American.
Last week, Gordon said, “I’ve got to stay locked in and continue to finish the job. The job being trying to make first-team All-American. That’s my last goal for the college season. Try to make first-team All-American and top three, that’s really my goal to end the season.”
Gordon just received his bachelor’s degree in economics. Now he’ll decide if he wants to return to UAlbany for his final two years of eligibility or transfer to another program.
“It’s just about gearing up to do the right stuff in the future, setting my life up because I’m 23, I’ve got my bachelor’s,” he said. “It’s just about what happens next and for me to make the right steps in getting that done. If I can get it done at Albany, I’ll get it done at Albany. It’s all about what I need, at the end of the day.”
Gordon, who is from the Cayman Islands, came to UAlbany as a high jumper but made the transition to long jump because of ankle problems.
He came in 29th in the long jump at the NCAA East Preliminary in 2021 and 35th last year. Last month, he finished fifth in the East Preliminary in Jacksonville, Fla. to advance to the NCAA championships for the first time.
Gordon was the first long jumper to qualify for national…
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