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Track and Field
at Battle on the Bayou
University of Oklahoma Athletics
The Wind Effect
July 17, 2009 | Track and Field
July 17, 2009
NORMAN, Okla. -- On May 17 at the Big 12 Championships, Oklahoma phenomenon Will Claye broke a 27-year old U.S. Junior National record in the triple jump with a distance of 55-7.00 (16.94). The freshman won the event, however, with a longer jump of 55-9.75 (17.01).
The same thing happened one month later when jumping on his 18th birthday, Claye won the NCAA title with a jump of 56-6.75 (17.24), but broke his own U.S. record with a jump of 56-4.75 (17.19).
Why aren't the longer jumps being considered for the record books? The bone-thin 150-pounder was flying through the air with the help of a tailwind over 2.0 meters-per-second.
You see, the triple jump is one of six events, along with the long jump, 100- and 110-meter hurdles and 100- and 200-meter dash, which is affected by the legality of the wind in regards to record keeping. A rule that helps to confuse the casual track and field fan.
The crucial point in regards to the rule is 2.0. That is, 2.0 meters-per-second. On the point or below it, a mark in one of the previously mentioned six events is eligible for record keeping. Anything above the point, try again my friend.
Thus explains the Claye situation. At the NCAA Championships, Claye produced his winning jump on his third attempt yet there was a wind of 2.5 meters-per-second at his back while his second jump had a wind of just 2.0 meters-per-second, good for the U.S. Junior National record.
In regards to track events at OU, the rule is illustrated in the men's 100-meter dash performance list. While William Snoddy is the only Sooner in history to run a sub-10 second 100, 9.87, the effort was wind aided, giving the program record to John Garrison with a time of 10.04.
On the international level, the rule came into play in 1991 World Championships as Carl Lewis chased Bob Beamon's long-standing world record in the long jump. Lewis finally eclipsed Beamon's mark of 29-2.50 (8.90) with a jump of 29-2.75 (8.91), but Lewis emerged from the sand pit only to find out the jump was wind aided.
A jump that was not wind aided was Mike Powell's attempt in the next round as the American broke off a winning distance of 29-4.50 (8.95), a world record that still stands today.
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