LONDON – Brittney Reese became the first American woman since Jackie Joyner-Kersee in 1988 to win the long jump gold, leaping 23 feet 4 and 1/2 inches to victory.
Reese’s American teammate Janay Deloach captured the bronze. Russian Elena Sokolova finished second with a jump two inches shorter than Reese’s.
(Listen to Brittney Reese’s interview with Steve Futterman)
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Elsewhere at the Olympic Stadium, the Americans also picked up a pair of medals in the 110-meter hurdles. Aries Merritt finished first in 12.92 while teammate Jason Richardson finished second in 13.04.