Part 2 Season Previews: Long and Triple Jumpers

November 26, 2014

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IOWA CITY, Iowa — The University of Iowa track and field horizontal jumpers are coming off summer training hungry and more focused than ever. Check out what coach Clive Roberts and his group of jumpers have to say about the upcoming season in part two of the 2015 season previews.

“I’ve fallen short at every conference championship so far, and unfortunately, I had to watch last year’s NCAA Championships at home on my couch,” said junior Klyvens Delaunay, who finished third at the indoor conference championships and runner-up at last year’s Big Ten Outdoor Championships. “That has been great motivation for me to keep pushing myself and practicing hard.”

Delaunay, who recorded the school’s second-best all-time indoor triple jump mark (52-1 1/4, 15.88m) at last year’s Tyson Invite, is looking to take the next step this season.

“I’m hoping to become a Big Ten Champion, and most of all, place top three at the national level because I know that’s where my caliber is.”

Delaunay will help lead the Hawkeyes alongside junior Babatunde Amosu, the 2014 indoor conference champion in the triple jump. Amosu recorded a winning and collegiate-best 51-7 3/4 (15.74), a mark that ranks fourth all-time at Iowa.

Coach Roberts and Delaunay are pleased with how the team has been shaping up over the past 10 weeks, and believe the group is taking a jump in the right direction.

“Fall training so far has gone fantastic. Our speed and power tests are looking better than prior years.” Roberts said. “A coach is always looking for better days ahead of him, and 80-90% of our practices have been really good. We took what we did last year and added some more things based on the individual.”

“The younger athletes are stepping up in a great way and are taking on a lot more mature role [this season],” Delaunay said. “Training is a lot better than it was last year for most guys, and everyone is pushing each other in practice. It’s a positive direction for all of us.”