GWANGJU, SOUTH KOREA (News release) – Arkansas State University track and field star Roelf Pienaar recently competed at the World University Games and finished third in a tightly-contested long jump competition.
“Roelf has had a great season this year with a third place finish at the NCAA Championships and then followed it up with a third place finish at the World University Games,” A-State track and field head coach Jim Patchell said. “He also jumped a big personal-best in the triple jump at the World Games and he was very excited about that.”
Pienaar, competing for his home country of South Africa, qualified for the final with a leap of 7.67m (25-02.00) to rank fifth in group B qualification. Pienaar leaped to a 7.98m (26-02.00) on his second attempt in the finals to take the lead in the event.
“It was an unbelievable atmosphere here in Gwangju,” Pienaar said. “The crowd was electric despite some heavy weather. I hurt my hamstring in the final of the triple jump so I was in a lot of pain during the long jump final. I am just grateful that I could get a decent jump in.”
Pavel Shalin of Russia jumped a wind-aided 8.29m (26-10.50) to take top honors and Vasilii Kopeikin finished ahead of Pienaar with a jump of 8.13m (26-08.00).
The rising-junior also competed in the triple jump, posting a personal-best of 16.13m (52-10.00) to qualify for the final. In the finals, Pienaar managed to finish 10th with a leap of 15.86m (52-00.50).
A four-time All-American for A-State, Pienaar enters his junior season poised to be atop the NCAA. Pienaar finished third at the 2015 NCAA Outdoor Championships and ninth at the 2015 NCAA Indoor Championships. Pienaar has won six Sun Belt Conference individual championship medals thus far, four outdoor (long jump-2, triple jump-2) and two indoor (long jump-1, triple jump-1).
“I know after a long season, Roelf is looking forward to some down time and getting back to work this fall,” Patchell added.
“Roelf has had a great season this year with a third place finish at the NCAA Championships and then followed it up with a third place finish at the World University Games,” A-State track and field head coach Jim Patchell said. “He also jumped a big personal-best in the triple jump at the World Games and he was very excited about that.”
Pienaar, competing for his home country of South Africa, qualified for the final with a leap of 7.67m (25-02.00) to rank fifth in group B qualification. Pienaar leaped to a 7.98m (26-02.00) on his second attempt in the finals to take the lead in the event.
“It was an unbelievable atmosphere here in Gwangju,” Pienaar said. “The crowd was electric despite some heavy weather. I hurt my hamstring in the final of the triple jump so I was in a lot of pain during the long jump final. I am just grateful that I could get a decent jump in.”
Pavel Shalin of Russia jumped a wind-aided 8.29m (26-10.50) to take top honors and Vasilii Kopeikin finished ahead of Pienaar with a jump of 8.13m (26-08.00).
The rising-junior also competed in the triple jump, posting a personal-best of 16.13m (52-10.00) to qualify for the final. In the finals, Pienaar managed to finish 10th with a leap of 15.86m (52-00.50).
A four-time All-American for A-State, Pienaar enters his junior season poised to be atop the NCAA. Pienaar finished third at the 2015 NCAA Outdoor Championships and ninth at the 2015 NCAA Indoor Championships. Pienaar has won six Sun Belt Conference individual championship medals thus far, four outdoor (long jump-2, triple jump-2) and two indoor (long jump-1, triple jump-1).
“I know after a long season, Roelf is looking forward to some down time and getting back to work this fall,” Patchell added.