Balumbu gets second chance to reserve his spot in Beijing
Posted on Friday, July 4, 2008
FAYETTEVILLE — Nkosinza Balumbu figured two years ago he would be competing for the United States at a worldwide track and field meet in Beijing. That was the site for the 2006 Junior World Championships, and 1 Balumbu’s 53-2 / 2 to take fifth in the triple jump at the NCAA Indoor meet as an Arkansas freshman was well ahead of any other Americans 19 or younger who were eligible for the U. S. team.
If Balumbu had jumped anywhere close to his personalbest at the time at the U. S. Junior Championships, he would have been headed for Beijing.
But a hamstring injury Balumbu aggravated late in the outdoor season kept him out of the U. S. Junior Championships and at home.
“It was really disappointing, because it was set for me,” Balumbu said. “All I had to do was jump decent and I knew I’d make the U. S. team.
“ My family was all ready to go to China. Everyone was excited. Then when I got hurt, that all changed.” Balumbu now has a second chance to compete in Beijing, at the 2008 Olympics. He’s in the triple jump at the U. S. trials, where the qualifying round is today and the final is Sunday. Balumbu’s family from Union City, Calif., will be in Eugene, Ore., to cheer him on at the trials and is ready to follow him to Beijing. “The No. 1 thing is making it to the final out of the first day,” Balumbu said. “If I get to the final, then anything can happen after that.” Balumbu goes to the trials after a junior year at Arkansas that included winning the NCAA In-3 door triple jump title at 54-3 / 4 and taking third at the NCAA Outdoors with a personal-best 54-4.
“For me, it would mean a lot,” Balumbu said about his chances of finishing in the top three and making the U. S. Olympic team. “It would mean I really zeroed in and believed in my coaching, believed in the system and believed I could be an elite triple jumper.
“ I’d be so happy and ready to represent the U. S. to the fullest of my ability.” Arkansas field events coach Dick Booth said Balumbu got in four days of rest after the NCAA Championships, where he took six triple jumps on June 14.
Balumbu has been practicing, but has been careful not to aggravate toe, foot and knee injuries that slowed him earlier this season.
“He’s a long shot to make the U. S. team, but I really believe he’ll make the final, and I think he’ll do better than people think,” Booth said. “He’s starting to feel better physically, and there are lower expectations for him at the trials.
“ He has the opportunity to be the spoiler, kind of fly under the radar. Then if he jumps well, people can say, ‘Whoa, where did he come from ?’ “ That’s kind of a fun thing for Nkosinza, because obviously at the NCAA level he’s got a target on him.” Balumbu ranks 11 th among Americans in the triple jump going into the qualifying round.
“I feel like I’m in good range to really break through and get in that top three and make it to Beijing,” he said. “It’s about working hard, staying focused, and trying to make a dream come true.
“ It pretty much comes down to who is going to be ready to compete their best that day, and who is going to get a little baffled and who is going to get nervous when someone else puts a big number out there.” Balumbu tries not to dwell on what might have been if he had been healthy enough to make the U. S. team for the 2006 Junior World Championships. But it is in the back of his mind at times.
“What happened to me with my hamstring two years ago was just bad luck,” Balumbu said. “But hopefully my luck will turn around this year.
“ Competing at Junior Worlds would have been a great accomplishment. But to represent the United States at the Olympics would be even greater if I can pull it off.” Balumbu at a glance EVENT Triple jump COLLEGE Arkansas (just completed junior year ) HIGH SCHOOL James Logan HOMETOWN Union City, Calif. AGE 21 (born March 16, 1987 ) CAREER HIGHLIGHTS 2008 NCAA Indoor champion.... five-time All-American... went personal-best 54-4 in taking third at the 2008 NCAA Outdoors... five-time NCAA champion
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