The University of Mississippi Athletics
Reese Crowned Long Jump World Champion
8/24/2009 | Track and Field
BERLIN, Germany (AP) - Former Ole Miss All-American Brittney Reese of the United States won the women's long jump at the world championships Sunday, beating defending champion Tatyana Lebedeva of Russia.
Trailing after two rounds, the 22-year-old Reese came up with a huge jump of 23-03.50 meters on her third attempt to claim her first world title.
"I had it in me, but the media was telling me I couldn't do it in the finals," Reese said. "So, I wanted to finally prove that I can do it."
Lebedeva took silver with a jump of 22-10.50, and Karin Mey Melis of Turkey won bronze with a leap of 22-03.75.
"It was really a surprise," Melis said.
Olympic champion Maurren Higa Maggi of Brazil finished seventh.
Reese's victory came a day after American teammate Dwight Phillips won the men's long jump.
"I've been losing sleep," Reese said. "This is what I wanted to get since I competed in college. To come and get it is great."
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