Record leap

Press, 9 October 1982, Page 19

Record leap

A 21-year-old sales representative. Shonel Ferguson, of the Bahamas, won the women's long jump with a world-class leap of 6.91 m.

This easily surpassed the Commonwealth record held by Jennifer Innes, of Guyana, at 6.82 m, but will go unrecognised because of wind assistance. The silver medallist, Robyn Strong, of Australia, also exceeded the Commonwealth record with her best jump of 6.88 m. but this too was ruled out for record purposes by wind assistance. Miss Ferguson, who spends much of her time in the United States and is a graduate of the University of Florida. got her big leap out at

her first attempt. “My intention was to blow them all right away with my first jump,” she said afterwards. “I felt that if I could get right out on my first jump the others would have to come and get me." She had two other jumps, of 6.85 m and 6.88 m, which would have been good enough to win with. The highest-placed New Zealand jumper was Pam Hendren, who achieved 6.33 m on her second attempt. She was unable to improve on this, finishing in eighth place.

The second New Zealander in the contest, Noeline Hodgins, was eliminated after three rounds, after jumping 6.27 m.