Record-Breaking Jump Advances Brown to NCAA Championships

Jasmine Brown took second in the triple jump on Saturday (May 30) in Austin, Texas.

AUSTIN, Texas - Jasmine Brown continued her revision of Western Illinois' track and field record books with a record-setting leap in the triple jump at the NCAA West Preliminary Round on Saturday (May 30) while also advancing to the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships.

Brown jumped 13.20 meters (43' 3.75") on her third and final attempt to take second place, beating her previous personal best by over two feet. The sophomore's performance makes her the first woman in WIU track and field history to leap over 13 meters in the event. She takes over the top spot from Ashley Yancy who jumped 12.77 meters in 2008.

"Jasmine's jumps were nothing short of awesome. She set a personal best in each of her three attempts to finish out the competition in second place," said head track and field coach Mike Stevenson following Brown's performance. "Taking second at the NCAA first round is just huge. I can't be any more proud of her than I already am, but this just tops it off. She's a great competitor and now is headed to the NCAA Championships as a representitive of Western Illinois. The whole athletic department and school should be very proud of her."

Saturday's performance marks Brown's second day of competition at the NCAA Preliminary Round. She also contended in the long jump on Thursday (May 28), finishing 33rd after setting the WIU record in the event on May 14 at The Summit League Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Macomb.

The DeKalb, Illinois native's qualifying performance marks the second straight year that the Purple and Gold have advanced a representative to the championship round of competition. Jamario Taylor competed the high jump for Western at the outdoor championships in 2014, garnering Second Team All-America Honors with a 12th place finish. The last time WIU was represented at the outdoor championships in consecutive years was 1991-92.

The 2015 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, hosted by the University of Oregon, are set to begin Wednesday, June 10 in Eugene, Oregon. However Brown will not compete until the final day, Saturday, June 13, at 2 p.m. More information on the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships can be found HERE. Fans can follow WIU track and field on twitter at @W1UXCTF.

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Players Mentioned

Jamario Taylor: JUMPS; Senior; East Aurora

Jasmine Brown: JUMPS; Sophomore; Dekalb

Players Mentioned

Jamario Taylor
: Senior; East Aurora
: JUMPS

Jasmine Brown
: Sophomore; Dekalb
: JUMPS