Sophia Beckmon Nearly Captures National Long Jump Record

* Oregon City's Sophia Beckmon is on the verge of breaking the national record in the girls long jump

Photo Credit: Fanta Mithmeuangneu

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Sometimes, it just happens. 

That moment. When all your vision-boarding comes into focus and you connect on that one big jump.

On Friday in Portland, Oregon City High School senior Sophia Beckmon hit the big one, landing for an Oregon state record of 22 feet, 4 inches in the long jump at the Jesuit Twilight Relays. 

She now sits only an inch behind national-record holder Kate Hall, who marked a best of 22-5 in 2015 at New Balance Nationals Outdoor. Only three high school girls in history have long jumped over 22 feet, including Hall, indoor national-record holder Tara Davis and Marion Jones.

The University of Illinois signee previously owned a previous best of 21 feet, 4.5 inches (6.81 meters), which, coincidentally enough, came just the week prior. 

But a year ago, Beckmon only broke 20 feet once, that effort coming at the Oregon State Outdoor Championships. 

This year, she's hit another level. The Oregon standout, who is the defending state champion in the long jump,  had a spectacular series, with marks of 21-0, 21-2 and 22-4, before fouls on her fourth and fifth attempts.

The previous Oregon state record before Beckmon? It stood at 19-10. 

"My runway approach has been in the making," Beckmon told the Oregonian afterward. "I'm still working on it. But it's been so much better. I've been able to stay under myself a lot better, and I'm actually getting there. Last year, I really only had my speed and now I can actually go and get up in the air."

Friday's performance marked her third 20-plus jump in five outings. Better yet, Beckmon also could contend for Oregon state titles in the 100m and 200m, where she is ranked No. 2 in the state with times of 11.50 seconds and 23.47 seconds, only behind national record-chaser Mia Brahe Pedersen. 

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