USA Long Jump Champion Brittney Reese is ready to defend her title this weekend at the USA Indoor Track and Field Championships in Albuquerque, NM. The long jump is scheduled for 1:15 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 27.
Reese will be competing after suffering her first loss in over a season as she was defeated by Marshevet Myers on Feb. 12 at the Tyson Invitational in Fayetteville, Ark. Myers won with a jump of 6.83 meters which stands as the fourth-best U.S. performance ever. Reese claimed the third spot at last year’s USA Indoor Championships as she jumped 6.89 meters.
The former Ole Miss Rebel continues to train with her former college coach, Joe Walker. The pair is spending this week fine tuning her jumping technique and making other necessary adjustments before the meet.
Walker is impressed with her dedication to defending her USA title and is not concerned about the recent loss.
“Brittney shows exactly what type of person she is when she competes,” said Walker. “It really just shows you how much talent and determination she has along with the type of character she has. There is no doubt in my mind she will repeat as USA Champion.”
Reese also says she is staying focused on the task at hand.
“I just take it one day at a time. My focus right now is on defending my crown at the USA Championships on Sunday. At this point, everything is coming together for me. I have had a great week of practice and am ready to get out there and compete.”
Leading up to this year’s USA Championships, Reese has put more concentration on lifting weights than in the past, and has recently undergone a weight room coaching change. Former Ole Miss Track and Field Strength and Conditioning Coach Brian Weisman left the Rebels in January after he accepted a job with the U.S. Armed Forces. Assistant Coach John Simmons has taken over her strength program.
Simmons is pleased with Reese’s progression so far this season.
“Brittney is peaking at the right time. It is a long process, but we have set her up to really break out this weekend.”
Reese, a Gulfport, Miss. native, attended Gulfport High School where she earned the 2004 Gatorade “Player of the Year” award for track and field. Reese signed with Ole Miss in 2007 to run track after transferring from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College.
In 2008, Reese won the NCAA Championship in the long jump and finished fifth in the Olympics. The following year, she turned pro and won the World Outdoor Championships with a world leading jump of 23-feet 3.50 inches. Reese also captured the 2010 World Indoor Championship before repeating as USA Outdoor Champion last summer.
For more on Reese’s accomplishments, visit www.usatf.org/athletes/bios/Reese_Brittany.asp.
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