Brittney Reese in the long jump at the IAAF World Indoor Championships (© Getty Images)
The women’s long jump promises to be one of the most competitive field events this weekend in Portland.
After securing the national title, USA’s Brittney Reese is back to try to regain a title she won in 2010 and 2012. Judging by some of her fouls in Portland last weekend, she might not be far off the championship record of 7.23m she set in 2012.
Olympic bronze medallist Janay DeLoach, runner-up to Reese in the Turkish city, will be aiming to make it another 1-2 finish for the USA.
But a strong group of European women may have different plans. Germany’s Alexandra Wester has improved her personal best by 36 centimetres this year to a world-leading 6.95m and will be making her global championships debut in Portland.
World silver medallist Shara Proctor leads the British trio and hopes to improve her fourth-place finish from two years ago. IAAF World Indoor Tour winner Lorraine Ugen has also shown fine form when winning at the Glasgow Grand Prix with 6.80m.
World bronze medallist indoors and out, Ivana Spanovic once again carries Serbia’s best hopes of a medal. Her 6.85m winning leap at the national championships proved she is ready to contend for the top places.
Under any conditions, the best jumper in the world this year is Brooke Stratton, who recently set an Australian record of 7.05m outdoors. In Portland she will be competing indoors for the first time in her career, but if she is able to reproduce her outdoor form, she could make it on to the podium.
Javier Clavelo Robinson for the IAAF
