The Scoop: Penn Relays Recap And A Big Weekend In Texas

Tony Martin Explodes For An Incredible Long Jump Mark In Michigan 

- - - 

One simple adjustment may have made all the difference for Tony Martin. 

The Saginaw (MI) High School senior, who's headed to Michigan State University next fall, moved out his long jump mark from of 82 feet to 101 feet this outdoor season, a shift likely made to take advantage of his top-end velocity before takeoff.

And this week he capitalized on that decision, hitting a remarkable and reportedly wind-legal US No. 1 effort of 26 feet, 6 inches at a small meet in Michigan. That mark, a new Michigan-state record, would be US No. 5 all-time. 

According to Michigan-based journalist Jeff Hollobaugh, Martin's 3-jump series went 26-6 (+1.6), 23-5 (+1.6) and 23-11 (+2.0). All three of those jumps were above his career best from his junior season when he hit a mark of 23-4.75 at regionals. 

In fact, since Martin made that runaway adjustment, he's PR'ed in every meet outdoors. On April 23 he produced a win of 23-3 in a tri-meet. 

But maybe Martin's speed is also providing a difference. He ran 10.96 in that same tri-meet and has been reportedly even faster since then. 

We'll keep paying attention to the jumper from Michigan.