The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

LEEVAN ‘Superman’ Sands, returning to the same venue where he won his first Olympic Games medal in 2008, picked up a seventh place finish on Wednesday night as he competed in his first international meet since coming off an injury that prevented him from finishing at the 2012 London Olympics.

The 33-year-old Bahamian national record holder proved that he’s not quite done yet in the triple jump as he soared 16.35 metres or 53-feet, 7 ?-inches in the highly contested event in the IAAF World Championship meet at the Bird’s Nest in Beijing, China that comes ahead of the IAAF World Championships at the same venue in August.

“This one was good. It was a good meet,” Sands told The Tribune as he was en route from China to his home in Auburn. “This was the first major international meet that I competed in and I felt very good. I wasn’t thinking about anything. I just wanted to go out there and jump very good. My goal was to jump over 16.50m (54-1 ?), but I had some big jumps as I surprised myself. My first jump was right around 17m and I had two jumps close to 17m, (55-9 ?) but they were fouled.

“I just have to get used to running on the mondo track again. The track I train on is a little softer, so every time I get on these runways, my approach seems to be off. But I will go back to Auburn and work on my approach again. I actually went from shorter approaches. It wasn’t even my full approaches. I only used 14 steps. I normally use 18 for my full approach. I just have to wait on my next competition.”

While he waits on his agent to inform him when he will compete again, Sands said he was pleased to be a part of the competition that saw Cuban Alexis Copello win with 16.70m (54-9 ?). Godfrey Mokoena of the Republic of South Africa came in second with 16.67m (54-9 ?) and the Chinese connection of Bin Dong (16.67m – 54-81/4) and Shuo Cao (16.66 – 54-8) were third and fourth respectively.

Sands, the most decorated Bahamian triple jumper having won a bronze medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, 2003 Paris IAAF World Championships and the 2002 Manchester Commonwealth Games, said he has been using the long jump to help him develop his speed for his signature event.

“I started doing good with 7.70 (25-3 ?) for the year. I think that’s awesome. I think I could have jumped further too,” he said. “I fouled some big jumps in Guadeloupe, but I’m just happy to be back on the runway.

“I just thank God for giving me the opportunity to just jump again. A lot of people thought I was done, but there were more positive things than negative, so it feels good to be back on the runway.”

Sands, however, was shy of the qualifying mark of 16.90m (55-5 ?) to make another trip to Beijing in August for the World Championships. So far, only collegian Latario Collie-Minns has attained the mark, posting the fourth best jump in the world over the weekend of 17.18m (56-4 ?).

But Sands is confident that with some adjustments in his training with Bahamian coach Henry Rolle in Auburn, he should have no problem booking his ticket.

“It’s not out of reach. My first jump was around 17m, so I know it’s there. I know I can qualify for the World Championships. I just have to get a big meet in and be in an environment where I have a crowd because I like to feed off a crowd.

“So in my next meet, I feel I should be able to go over 16.90 (55-5 1/2). Based on the way I jumped this weekend, it’s highly likely that I can do it.”

During the meet, Sands said he got a chance to watch Raymond Higgs, who had to settle for 11th with 7.23m (23-8 ?).

“He was a little flat. I guess he was a little jet-lagged. This was his first one all the way to Asia. He was a bit jet- lagged. It takes a while to get over it,” Sands said.

“I’m a veteran, so I know how to deal with it. It will take some people a while to adjust, but he’s looking okay. I had a short talk with him and told him to keep his head up. I told him the big jumps will come. He just has to be consistent and continue to train hard.”

Higgs, the 23-year-old Grand Bahamian native competing on the pro circuit after forfeiting his senior year of eligibility at the University of Arkansas, will have to clear 8.10m (26-7) in order to qualify for Beijing for another appearance in the World Championships.

So far, no Bahamian is in the top rankings in the event. Collie-Minns, however, has a wind-aided mark of 7.86m (25-9 ?).