Alabama’s Quanesha Burks Earns Spot on USA Team for World Junior Championships

University of Alabama freshman Quanesha Burks placed second in the women's long jump at the United States Junior National Championships on Sunday evening at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon. Burks and Jazmin McCoy of the University of Nebraska earned a spot on the United States' team for the upcoming World Junior Championships, slated to be held Eugene on July 22-27.

Burks placed second via her best jump of the day, an effort of 20 feet, 11.25 inches (6.38 meters) on her third attempt of the day. Overall, Burks produced legal jumps on five of her six attempts. Burks' best effort of the day matched McCoy's winning mark, but McCoy was deemed the winner of the competition due to McCoy having a better second-best jump.

Burks leaped 20-7.75 (6.29m) on her first attempt, fouled on her second attempt, launched her best jump on her third attempt. Her remaining leaps went 18-9.75 (5.73m), 19-6.25 (5.95m) and 18-1 (5.51m). Her best jump of the day also was her only wind-legal jump (1.8 meters per second) and the competition took place with a strong tailwind aiding the athletes.