Why not add the standing long jump to suite of masters events?
1912 gold medalist Konstantinos Tsiklitiras went 3.37 (11-0 3/4) at the Stockholm Games.
Friday I got a query from Germany. A gent wrote me: “I just stumbled across your site while researching what is the current world record standing longjump in ageclass M75. I could not find anything reliable and was wondering if you know anything? My father just jumped 2.14 meters (7-0 1/4) today in standing longjump without even training for it. He will turn 75 this month.” I replied, noting that the event isn’t contested in WMA, so no official record exists. But I sent him a link to the Huntsman World Senior Games, where the M75 standing LJ record is 2.27 (7-5 1/4 by my HJ friend Davie Perry). But it got me thinking: Why not have standing LJ as an official event? Remember, the Olympics had it until 1912. Some countries — and the NFL — use it as a test of fitness. It’s easy to do. Fun, too (as you’ll recall from grade-school days). Also, it’s in the news, since a football player set an unofficial world record of 3.73 (12-2 3/4).
Think it’s impossible to add an event? Ask Jeff Davison, father of the masters shuttle hurdle relay.
Think the event isn’t needed? Count how many throwing events we have. Including the multis, we have eight. How many jumps? Four. Add the SLJ and we can have a jumps pentathlon!
Think it wouldn’t be embraced? Oh my, it’s way easier on the joints than the TJ, and I can see folks over 90 loving it when they can’t run anymore.
Anyone out there want a standing long jump enough to take the lead? Jeff and I can help you navigate the red tape.
Why not have real age-group records in the SLJ? Our German friend’s dad should have something to shoot for.
Nothing to stop any meet promoters adding events to their programme, but if there’s any clamour to add, say, SLJ to international meets, for example, it’s passed well beneath my radar.
Bill Daprano - July 18, 2015
I think it would be a good idea to add SLJ. If for nothing more than another discipline to train for.
Ed OIeata - July 18, 2015
Adding the SLJ would be a waste of time. All it does is measure fast twitch muscles. Not even any technique required like the LJ. With about an hour of technique drills the fastest guy in each age group would every year. I just tried it 3 times in my computer room and went 6 1/2 feet and I was tired from working out already. I’m 78. Bob Lida with his long legs and seed would win my age group every year if he shows up and isn’t injured just like he’s been doing the last 15 years. Ed Oleata
Craig Simmons - July 18, 2015
I guess going back to the name we originally called it, “the standing broad jump,” won’t cut it nowadays. At least the old name led to a lot of good jokes. I don’t think I’ve done the standing long (broad) jump in at least 50 years, since grade school or junior high, I’ll have to give it a try one of these days. I do remember being the best in our class at least one year. It’s funny because I was recently thinking that it would be really cool to make it part of the master’s competitions especially for 60+. I vote yes.
Milan Jamrich - July 18, 2015
I used to be good at it, but I feel SLJ times are gone….but it is a good training exercise
tb - July 18, 2015
It seems to be a staple of Sr Games and corporate games, so it is out there. Just have to hunt thru mastersrankings a little for a local games.
Roger Vergin - July 18, 2015
I have done the standing long jump at a few senior games. It is a fun event and very easy on the body. It probably requires less than 20% of the energy that is required in the running long jump, so one can easily fit it in even if you are doing several events.
What I would really like to see is a Jump Pentathlon, just as throwers have the Throw Pentathlon. The standing long jump becomes the required fifth event after the long jump, high jump, triple jump and pole vault. Suddenly we have five jumping events and we are all set for a Jump Pentathlon.
Dino - July 19, 2015
@Ed OIeata I don’t think SLJ is a waste of time. It actually is fast to do in a competition, since no one has to measure his runup etc. It puts alot less strain on the achilles tendon since you use both legs and don’t bring in the high velocity of a runup. If you take a close look at the worlds top performers from USA / Norway you will see that there actually is technic involved.. Whats so bad about having an event that measures explosive power,
rate of force development, muscle fiber composition flawlessly? Alot of people don’t even know about their true potential in jumps & sprints. It’s a fun way to bring people to compete. Also possible would be a standing triathlon consisting of Standing Long, High & Triple Jump. Much less strain on the body.
Steve Morris - July 19, 2015
How about also adding the standing high jump and the standing triple jump? The GREAT Ray Ewry won 8 Olympic gold medals in the standing jumps. He had polio as a child and was confined to a wheel chair. AMAZING!
Terry Smith - July 19, 2015
I would like to see the standing long jump included in more of the bigger meets since they’re in a lot of the smaller ones. There’s still numerous good jumpers out there like Steve Wilson (Kansas) who’s 65 years old and goes 9 feet. It would definitely have many people interested in it.
Mike Walker - July 19, 2015
Like Milan, I use it in training and don’t see it as a big event. To me, the one reason to offer the SLJ is that it is an event where a lot of different types of athletes including throwers can be competitive. If more meets offered the SLJ and it became popular then it could be considered for Nationals. I would not have expected the 50 meter which is run outdoors at the senior games to be very popular but it seems to draw a lot of entrants.
David E. Ortman (M62), Seattle, WA - July 22, 2015
On October 14, 2006, Bill Murray organized the first ever Masters Jumpers Pentathlon at the Port City Masters Meet in Mobile, Alabama.
The following were the events: 110/100 Hurdles – LJ – TJ – HJ – PV.
My notes have the following result:
M50
Bill Murray 3368
Jeff Watry 2542
David E. Ortman 2430
Richard Watson 1639
M55
Lyndell Farmer 3137
M60
Robert Baker 3882
Joe Johnston 3422
M65
George Labelle 1897
I was hampered by a nasty hamstring pull in the long jump. The meet was also graced with Olympian High Jumper Jim Barrineau helping with the officiating and the presence of Olympian gold medalist Lee Evans, who was then coaching at the University of Southern Alabama at Mobile.
Note that the Hurdles were counted as a “jumping” event (thank goodness it wasn’t the steeplechase). The Standing Long Jump can not be used because there are no scoring tables for the event.
Dino - July 22, 2015
@David Then tables need to be made. Just because something isn’t there yet doesn’t mean it cannot be done. Its just statistics
anonymous - July 22, 2015
OK Dino, go ahead and get started on them. In your spare time of course.
Roger Vergin - July 23, 2015
David, that is very interesting to hear about that Masters Jumpers Pentathlon held in 2006. I can understand the hurdles being used as the fifth jumping event — though the standing long jump seems like a more logical selection.
As you point out, there are no scoring tables for that event. Until someone comes up with tables, I have a suggestion for scoring the standing long jump.
From observing results of several meets that included both the long jump and standing long jump, it appears that a multiple of something like 1.75 is not too far off in comparing individuals’ standing long jump distances to their long jump distances. So, a reasonable scoring table for the standing long jump could simply be to multiply the standing long jump distance by 1.75 and then use the long jump scoring table.
I would love to see another of the Masters Jumpers Pentathlon. 2016 will be the tenth year from the inaugural event — it seems like it is time for another.
I also found it interesting that the majority of the participants you listed are still active in the pentathlon or decathlon events.
Matt B. - July 26, 2015
Men’s World records:
Modern 12′ 2 3/4″
Unofficial 12’3″ Rob Moore NFL combine
Wouldn’t take but a few minutes to make scoring tables actually.
M35 11′ Raw Ewry
M40 11’1″
M45 10’1/4″
M50 9’10 1/2″ (unofficial Jim Thorpe- 10’8″)
M55 9′ 10″
M60 8’9″
M65 8’7″
M70 8’9 1/2″
M75 7’8″
M80 6’5 1/4″
M85 6’4 1/4″
M90 4’11 1/4″
Randy Harris - September 6, 2015
I have to disagree with Ed Oieata regarding the fastest sprinters winning this event. I have finished first or second at Hunstman the last 4 years with a best jump of 8’9″ in the 55 to 59 age group. I am not that fast (50 meters 7.8), but out jump guys who blow me away in that event. I am now hitting 9 feet in practice for this years Huntsman games. This is by far my best event, and it is frustrating that is is not acknowledged by USA Track & Field. I Talk with Steve Wilson who is the world record holder in the 60 to 64 division ( 9′ 3″ ), and of course he is frustrated also. If the NFL uses it as a standard for explosive power, then it should be an event as it once was.
Julia - December 8, 2016
What’s the status of the standing long jump being added to masters’ meets? Would love to see this included for those of us who love to jump!
Petter Ording - March 5, 2017
Hi
I am sorry to inform you that Steve Wilson is not the world record holder in standing long jump age 60-64. According to the statistics of the norwegian track and field association four norwegian athletes in this age group has a better result than 9′ 3”.
Wow! Friend & I were just discussing this topic. Most state senior olympics include SLJ & it’s awesome. It’s time to go national & to be added to Masters, please make it so – effective immediately.
Bill king - June 5, 2017
Great idea to add the stand long jump to more contested events. Some athletes not able to run any longer could do this and have something to train for. That is a good thing. Anything to keep moving and improve your
Health and well being. The idea of fitness for the older population is essential and if another discipline is added, more power to it!
Chuck Greene - September 17, 2023
Yes…Please re-admit SLJ to the track and field program; it’s the every-person jumping event….fun, and easy to learn.
Ken has followed track as an athlete, writer and web-master since the late 1960s, and saw most sessions of track and field at the 1984 Los Angeles and 1996 Atlanta Olympics. He also attended the 1988, 1992, 2000, 2004, 2008 and 2012 Trials, the last three as a blogger and Patch correspondent. [More...]
22 Responses
Nothing to stop any meet promoters adding events to their programme, but if there’s any clamour to add, say, SLJ to international meets, for example, it’s passed well beneath my radar.
I think it would be a good idea to add SLJ. If for nothing more than another discipline to train for.
Adding the SLJ would be a waste of time. All it does is measure fast twitch muscles. Not even any technique required like the LJ. With about an hour of technique drills the fastest guy in each age group would every year. I just tried it 3 times in my computer room and went 6 1/2 feet and I was tired from working out already. I’m 78. Bob Lida with his long legs and seed would win my age group every year if he shows up and isn’t injured just like he’s been doing the last 15 years. Ed Oleata
I guess going back to the name we originally called it, “the standing broad jump,” won’t cut it nowadays. At least the old name led to a lot of good jokes. I don’t think I’ve done the standing long (broad) jump in at least 50 years, since grade school or junior high, I’ll have to give it a try one of these days. I do remember being the best in our class at least one year. It’s funny because I was recently thinking that it would be really cool to make it part of the master’s competitions especially for 60+. I vote yes.
I used to be good at it, but I feel SLJ times are gone….but it is a good training exercise
It seems to be a staple of Sr Games and corporate games, so it is out there. Just have to hunt thru mastersrankings a little for a local games.
I have done the standing long jump at a few senior games. It is a fun event and very easy on the body. It probably requires less than 20% of the energy that is required in the running long jump, so one can easily fit it in even if you are doing several events.
What I would really like to see is a Jump Pentathlon, just as throwers have the Throw Pentathlon. The standing long jump becomes the required fifth event after the long jump, high jump, triple jump and pole vault. Suddenly we have five jumping events and we are all set for a Jump Pentathlon.
@Ed OIeata I don’t think SLJ is a waste of time. It actually is fast to do in a competition, since no one has to measure his runup etc. It puts alot less strain on the achilles tendon since you use both legs and don’t bring in the high velocity of a runup. If you take a close look at the worlds top performers from USA / Norway you will see that there actually is technic involved.. Whats so bad about having an event that measures explosive power,
rate of force development, muscle fiber composition flawlessly? Alot of people don’t even know about their true potential in jumps & sprints. It’s a fun way to bring people to compete. Also possible would be a standing triathlon consisting of Standing Long, High & Triple Jump. Much less strain on the body.
How about also adding the standing high jump and the standing triple jump? The GREAT Ray Ewry won 8 Olympic gold medals in the standing jumps. He had polio as a child and was confined to a wheel chair. AMAZING!
I would like to see the standing long jump included in more of the bigger meets since they’re in a lot of the smaller ones. There’s still numerous good jumpers out there like Steve Wilson (Kansas) who’s 65 years old and goes 9 feet. It would definitely have many people interested in it.
Like Milan, I use it in training and don’t see it as a big event. To me, the one reason to offer the SLJ is that it is an event where a lot of different types of athletes including throwers can be competitive. If more meets offered the SLJ and it became popular then it could be considered for Nationals. I would not have expected the 50 meter which is run outdoors at the senior games to be very popular but it seems to draw a lot of entrants.
On October 14, 2006, Bill Murray organized the first ever Masters Jumpers Pentathlon at the Port City Masters Meet in Mobile, Alabama.
The following were the events: 110/100 Hurdles – LJ – TJ – HJ – PV.
My notes have the following result:
M50
Bill Murray 3368
Jeff Watry 2542
David E. Ortman 2430
Richard Watson 1639
M55
Lyndell Farmer 3137
M60
Robert Baker 3882
Joe Johnston 3422
M65
George Labelle 1897
I was hampered by a nasty hamstring pull in the long jump. The meet was also graced with Olympian High Jumper Jim Barrineau helping with the officiating and the presence of Olympian gold medalist Lee Evans, who was then coaching at the University of Southern Alabama at Mobile.
Note that the Hurdles were counted as a “jumping” event (thank goodness it wasn’t the steeplechase). The Standing Long Jump can not be used because there are no scoring tables for the event.
@David Then tables need to be made. Just because something isn’t there yet doesn’t mean it cannot be done. Its just statistics
OK Dino, go ahead and get started on them. In your spare time of course.
David, that is very interesting to hear about that Masters Jumpers Pentathlon held in 2006. I can understand the hurdles being used as the fifth jumping event — though the standing long jump seems like a more logical selection.
As you point out, there are no scoring tables for that event. Until someone comes up with tables, I have a suggestion for scoring the standing long jump.
From observing results of several meets that included both the long jump and standing long jump, it appears that a multiple of something like 1.75 is not too far off in comparing individuals’ standing long jump distances to their long jump distances. So, a reasonable scoring table for the standing long jump could simply be to multiply the standing long jump distance by 1.75 and then use the long jump scoring table.
I would love to see another of the Masters Jumpers Pentathlon. 2016 will be the tenth year from the inaugural event — it seems like it is time for another.
I also found it interesting that the majority of the participants you listed are still active in the pentathlon or decathlon events.
Men’s World records:
Modern 12′ 2 3/4″
Unofficial 12’3″ Rob Moore NFL combine
Wouldn’t take but a few minutes to make scoring tables actually.
M35 11′ Raw Ewry
M40 11’1″
M45 10’1/4″
M50 9’10 1/2″ (unofficial Jim Thorpe- 10’8″)
M55 9′ 10″
M60 8’9″
M65 8’7″
M70 8’9 1/2″
M75 7’8″
M80 6’5 1/4″
M85 6’4 1/4″
M90 4’11 1/4″
I have to disagree with Ed Oieata regarding the fastest sprinters winning this event. I have finished first or second at Hunstman the last 4 years with a best jump of 8’9″ in the 55 to 59 age group. I am not that fast (50 meters 7.8), but out jump guys who blow me away in that event. I am now hitting 9 feet in practice for this years Huntsman games. This is by far my best event, and it is frustrating that is is not acknowledged by USA Track & Field. I Talk with Steve Wilson who is the world record holder in the 60 to 64 division ( 9′ 3″ ), and of course he is frustrated also. If the NFL uses it as a standard for explosive power, then it should be an event as it once was.
What’s the status of the standing long jump being added to masters’ meets? Would love to see this included for those of us who love to jump!
Hi
I am sorry to inform you that Steve Wilson is not the world record holder in standing long jump age 60-64. According to the statistics of the norwegian track and field association four norwegian athletes in this age group has a better result than 9′ 3”.
(https://www.friidrett.no/globalassets/aktivitet/statistikk/alle-tiders/veteranermenn/nor-mvslj-ati.pdf)
Wow! Friend & I were just discussing this topic. Most state senior olympics include SLJ & it’s awesome. It’s time to go national & to be added to Masters, please make it so – effective immediately.
Great idea to add the stand long jump to more contested events. Some athletes not able to run any longer could do this and have something to train for. That is a good thing. Anything to keep moving and improve your
Health and well being. The idea of fitness for the older population is essential and if another discipline is added, more power to it!
Yes…Please re-admit SLJ to the track and field program; it’s the every-person jumping event….fun, and easy to learn.
Let’s continue to grow our sport !
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