DÜSSELDORF, Germany — The recent introduction of World Athletics’ experimental format for the long jump was showcased during the ISTAF indoor meet, where two-time world champion Malaika Mihambo emerged victorious while adapting to the new regulations.
Mihambo’s noteworthy performance saw her leap 6.87 meters on her fourth attempt, although she competed without many of her international rivals. This victory adds to her streak of successes at other events held in Dortmund and Karlsruhe earlier this year.
In a notable shift for the event, Mihambo’s win came using an innovative take-off zone instead of the conventional take-off board, marking this occasion as the first larger scale test of the new rule. Advocates for the change believe it could significantly reduce the number of fouls that often occur during competition.
Describing the new take-off area, Mihambo noted, “The momentum is much better, as if you’re jumping with just half a foot from the board.” This redesigned take-off zone measures 40 centimeters in length, doubling the previous take-off board’s 20 centimeters. Jumps are now measured from the athlete’s take-off point using advanced camera systems, in contrast to the traditional approach of measuring from the board’s end. This alteration diminishes the complexity involved in pinpointing the ‘sweet spot’ on the board while maintaining high speed for long jumps.
However, for official world rankings, distances continue to be measured using the traditional method from the end of the board. Dutch jumper Pauline Hondema achieved the most impressive jump using this method, recording a distance of 6.65 meters, which was ahead of Poland’s Anna Matuszewicz with a jump of 6.40 meters. Mihambo placed third with a valid jump of 6.39 meters when using the conventional measuring system.
Interestingly, both Mihambo and her coach, Uli Knapp, have expressed their support for the new rule. Knapp remarked, “It was very exciting for the spectators because there were far fewer invalid jumps. It makes the competition more entertaining. I’m open for changes, just like Malaika.” Despite this endorsement, there has been a wave of discontent among many long jumpers regarding the proposed adjustments to the competition format.
