Long jumper Murali Sreeshankar wins gold, Aldrin takes silver at International Jumping Meeting

Commonwealth Games silver medallist long jumper Murali Sreeshankar won gold with the season’s best performance of 8.18m at the International Jumping Meeting at Kallithea, near Greece capital on Wednesday (May 24).

Commonwealth Games silver medallist long jumper Murali Sreeshankar won gold with the season’s best performance of 8.18m at the International Jumping Meeting at Kallithea, near Greece capital on Wednesday (May 24).

The 24-year-old Sreeshankar defended the gold he had won last year with his sixth and last effort of 8.18m, his sixth career best performance, at the Wold Athletics Continental bronze level competition. He had won the gold last year with a best jump of 8.31m.

Sreeshankar’s series were 7.94m, 8.17m, 8.11m, 8.04m, 8.01m and 8.18m. He, however, could not breach the 2023 World Athletics Championships qualifying standard of 8.25m.

National record holder Jeswin Aldrin was second with a best jump of 7.85m. Aldrin, whose national mark stands at 8.42m which he had set in March, had series of 7.81m, 7.85m, 7.74m, 7.74m, 7.79m and foul.

Jalen Rucker of Australia was third with a best jump of 7.80m.