The Track Star Taking a Major Leap

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The Track Star Taking a Major Leap

What's going on: Olympic long jump gold medalist Tara Davis-Woodhall is on the kind of side quest few athletes dare to attempt – dominating not one, but two different sports. Last month, the reigning long jump world champion competed in the 100m hurdles… and won at the Ward Haylett Invitational. (It’s an event she ran in high school and college over five years ago, but never professionally.) Then, she clocked a personal-best 12.47 to finish second at the LA Grand Prix this past weekend against one of the deepest hurdle fields in the world. She also leapt a world-leading 7.20-meter in her signature contest to take first place at the same meet. It was a double feature that understandably got women’s track fans talking.  

Our take: Track and field is divided into dozens of highly specialized events, which is why Davis-Woodhall's experiment feels so fascinating. Becoming world-class in either the hurdles or long jump is usually a full-time job. Doing it in both is exceptionally rare outside of heptathletes. What makes this more than a fun challenge is the tone she’s setting. “I want to inspire the next generation of athletes to just not be afraid,” Davis-Woodhall told Team USA. “Do multiple events. We do it in high school all the time. We do it in college. Why can't we do it on the pro level?” Does it mean we'll see a serious shift at the next Summer Olympics? Not necessarily. But the lead-up to LA28 just got way more interesting. 

Related: Sha’Carri Richardson Makes Her 100m Season Debut in Style (NBC)

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Thursday, June 18

⛳ US Open tees off 

The tournament brings 156 players to New York’s Shinnecock Hills, including Árni Sveinsson, the first golfer from this country to make the field.

Saturday, June 20 

⚽ 1,000th World Cup match 

The record-setting game is between Japan and Tunisia in Mexico — and you can watch it on Fox Sports on June 21 at 12am ET. 

Monday, June 22

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Tuesday, June 23

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Top prospects AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, Cameron Boozer, and Caleb Wilson are expected to come off the board early. Catch it at 8 pm ET on ABC and ESPN.

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Skimmed by Mallory Simon and Jordan Galloway. Fact-checked by Jordan Mamone.