Makusha and Chibudu out of NCAA Outdoor finals
Zimbabwean long jumper and Florida State University (FSU) sophomore Ngoni Makusha and fellow long jumper Brian Chibudu (who had the longest mark in the US coming into last week's regionals) have both failed to earn a berth into next week's NCAA national championship meet in Fayetteville, Ark. Since Makusha finished 12th at the East Regional in Greensboro, N.C., he was automatically entered into the at-large pool for the long jump — the top 12 for each region get entered. And since Makusha's season's best jump ended up being the sixth best in the nation for non-automatic qualifiers, FSU track coach Bob Braman assumed the Zimbabwe native had narrowly slipped into the NCAA meet. There are almost always 26 long jumpers invited (20 automatic qualifiers and six from the at-large pool) to the national championships. In 2009 however, there will be just 25 competing (20 qualifiers and five at-large berths). So the reigning national champion won't be able to defend his title....