LONDON, England - Raymond Higgs might have the best jump in the world this year, albeit wind-aided, but his best on Friday night wasn't enough to get him into the Olympic final.
Higgs finished ninth in his group and 21st overall, with a best jump of 7.76 meters (m) - 25' 5-1/2". He said that he had some problems adjusting to the wind and couldn't get his marker in the right place.
"It was a good experience and a good opportunity for me, and I just thank God for getting here," he said in an interview.
"I'm disappointed but those things happen sometimes. It was difficult to get my mark set because the wind kept twirling. If the wind is blowing hard, you have to move your mark up and if it isn't blowing then you have to move it back.
"Today, it just kept twirling so I wasn't able to get in a good jump. It was very frustrating. I tried my best but it just didn't happen for me today."
Higgs scratched on his first jump, recorded his legal leap of 7.76m on his second attempt, and scratched his third and final jump. The automatic qualifying distance was 8.10m (26' 7"). Higgs has a personal best of 8.15m (26' 9") and a season's best of 8.07m (26' 5-3/4").
The 21-year-old athlete was jumping in his first Olympic Games. He got a taste of senior competition at last year's Daegu World Championships, but failed to make the final there and was looking to have a breakthrough performance at the 30th Olympic Games in London. However, it just wasn't to be.
"I think it all comes with experience," said Higgs.
"As a jumper, you have to know how the wind is blowing, get the mark and your approach right and just give it your all. I'll just have to try harder next time."
Mauro Vinicius da Silva, from Brazil, and American Marquise Goodwin were the only two jumpers who surpassed the automatic qualifying leap for the final. Both jumpers leapt 8.11m (26' 7-1/4"). Aleksandr Menkov, from Russia, had the third best qualifying leap, with a distance of 8.09m (26' 6-1/2").
Despite only recording a best of 7.76m on Friday night at Olympic Stadium, Higgs is one of the most versatile jumpers in Bahamian history. He is the only Bahamian to ever jump 26 feet in the long jump, 49 feet in the triple jump and over seven feet in the high jump.
The young star is looking forward to competing in many more senior meets for The Bahamas. He said that he definitely plans to be back on The Bahamas' Olympic team, and he has his sights set on Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 2016.

Click here to read more at The Nassau Guardian