#RioGoldRush: Pullen fails to find his best

Ryon Jones, Staff Reporter

First-time Olympian Clive Pullen was way off his best, as he exited the men’s triple jump at the opening round.

The 21-year-old fouled on his first two jumps before registering a mark of 16.08m on his final attempt some 0.82m outside of his personal best, as he placed 33rd out of 47 competitors.

The national champion is only the third male athlete to have ever represented Jamaica at the Olympics in the triple jump, with Lennox Burgher being the first after competing at the 1968 games in Mexico before Henry Jackson's appearance four years later in Munich.

Defending Olympic champion, Christian Taylor of the United States, leads all qualifiers with his mark of 17.24m. The final is set for 7:50 a.m. tomorrow.

Clive Pullen:
Age: 21 years old
High School: Kingston College
            Tertiary Education: University of Arkansas
            Events: men’s triple Jump
            Personal Best: 16.90m
 Interesting Facts:
Is one of only three Jamaican men to qualify to represent Jamaica in the triple jump at the Olympics with Henry Jackson the last to do so in 1972.
Was this year’s National Collegiate Athletic Association indoor champion.