Following video review by Red Raiders jumps coach Keith Herston, potential record performance incorrectly communicated as a meter longer than actual mark, restoring 2018 indoor effort by Keturah Orji

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

Keturah Orji regained her place at the top of the all-time collegiate women’s triple jump rankings for at least another week, following the performance by Texas Tech standout Ruth Usoro being reported incorrectly from Saturday’s competition at the Corky Classic at the Sports Performance Center in Lubbock.

Usoro was originally credited with a mark of 48-5.25 (14.76m) on her second attempt, which would have surpassed not only the indoor record of 47-8 (14.53m) achieved by Orji in 2018, but also the all-dates collegiate performance produced by the Georgia graduate with her fourth-place effort of 48-3.25 (14.71m) at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

According to an article by Don Williams in the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, Usoro’s jump wasn’t measured improperly, just reported incorrectly to the official marking the athletes’ performances.

Since first-year Texas Tech jumps coach Keith Herston was following the high jump competition, he wasn’t able to notice the error in Usoro’s mark until he watched the video after the triple jump had concluded.

Usoro likely jumped 45-1.75 (13.76m) instead of a potential record, but was only credited with a best mark of 44-2.50 (13.47m) on her third jump, before passing the final three attempts.

Ruta Lasmane, an All-American at Florida State who transferred to Texas Tech after Herston was hired to replace James Thomas following his departure for Georgia, is now credited as the winner of the triple jump with a sixth-round performance of 45-5.25 (13.85m).

Usoro is the reigning NCAA Division 1 indoor and outdoor triple jump champion. She holds Nigerian national records at 47-7 (14.50m) outdoors and 47-1.50 (14.36m) indoors.

Terrence Jones of Texas Tech is still credited with equaling the collegiate indoor record of Tennessee’s Christian Coleman and Leonard Myles-Mills of Brigham Young with his 6.45 performance in the 60-meter dash final Saturday.

Texas Tech is scheduled to host the Red Raider Open on Friday at the Sports Performance Center in Lubbock.