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Janay DeLoach captured a bronze medal in her Olympic debut on Wednesday, placing third in the women's long jump with a mark of 6.89 meters, one centimeter ahead of the fourth place finisher. DeLoach vaulted from fourth to bronze medal position on her fifth jump in the finals, where competitors have six jumps available.
DeLoach, a 2003 graduate of Eielson High School in Fairbanks, still owns the state girls record in the long jump at 19 feet, 5 inches. Her progress on the international stage has been evident, as nine years later she reaches a length of 22 feet, seven and a quarter inches in today's Olympic finals. DeLoach had previously earned a silver medal at the 2012 Indoor World Championships and sixth place at last year's outdoor championships.
DeLoach's American teammate Brittney Reese won the gold medal, while Elena Sokolova of Russia took the silver.
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