“It takes just one jump!”

That is what US long jumper, Sha’Keela Saunders told me as she prepares for the Olympic Trials in Eugene.

Suanders was the 2017 NCAA Division I Indoor track and field Long jump champion. She earned 13-time NCAA Division I All-America honors in her college career. She first broke the University of Kentucky Wildcats school record in the long jump for the first time 6.53 m (21 ft 5 in) en route to a first-place finish at the 2015 University of Kentucky Rod McCravy Memorial Track & Field Meet. Sha’Keela set the University of Kentucky Wildcats school record in the Long jump in 6.90 m (22 ft 8 in) in 2017 – a performance thank ranked and placed her in third on the all-time collegiate indoor list.

She’s competed in Diamond League events, World Championships and now an Olympics would complete her resume’.

She is also the Head Women’s Track and Field Coach at Hampton University in Virginia and loves passing along her knowledge to younger athletes.

Great to talk with Sha’Keela and it really only takes one jump.