United States track and field fans were introduced to Caleb Snowden on Sunday.
The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff senior high jumper matched his personal best and finished second in the U.S. Olympic Trials as one of only two jumpers to clear 2.27 meters at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore.
Only Shelby McEwen, who is ranked among the top 10 high jumpers in the world, outlasted Snowden. McEwen cleared 2.30 meters in one try, while Snowden was unable to clear the height.
Snowden’s 2.27-meter jump, which came on his third attempt, saw him surpass the No. 3-ranked high jumper in the world, JuVaughn Harrison, who competed in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Harrison, along with Nebraska’s Tyus Wilson, cleared 2.24 meters but failed to clear 2.27.
Although Snowden finished second, that alone did not guarantee him a spot in the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris as he has not cleared the Olympic standard of 2.33 meters.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
McEwen and Harrison were the only Americans to clear that height during this qualification window, though neither did so Sunday.
McEwen has clinched his spot on the Olympic team. Harrison would have had he finished in the top three Sunday, but he finished fourth behind Wilson. Who will join McEwen on Team USA had not been determined by the writing of this story, though UAPB told The Commercial on Sunday night it was still possible Snowden could make it.
Snowden, who holds the UAPB and SWAC records in the high jump, qualified for Sunday’s finals by finishing top 12 in last Thursday’s qualifiers at Hayward Field. He was one of 10 jumpers to clear 2.19 meters that day.
Sunday, Snowden cleared 2.16 meters in one try, 2.21 meters in two tries, and 2.24 meters in one attempt. He cleared 2.27 meters on his third attempt, matching his personal best. He had previously cleared that height once before, doing so on April 26 at the Memphis Tiger Invitational.
Earlier this year, Snowden finished second at the NCAA indoor championships and third at the outdoor championships. Wilson finished fourth at the indoor championships but edged Snowden for second at the outdoor championships, which were also at Hayward Field.