EUGENE, Ore. — At long last, Alyssa Jones is a national champion.
The senior out of Homestead, Fla., finally reached the top of the NCAA podium in the long jump on Thursday evening after seven previous finishes inside the top four across indoor and outdoor competition.
One jump was all it took for Jones to establish herself as the favorite, soaring to a meet record 7.06m (23-2) on her opening attempt, breaking the previous championship mark of 6.94m (22-9¼) set by Shelia Echols in 1987.
Jones also posted a 7.02m (23-½) jump in the fifth round, adding to an especially remarkable performance considering she had just eclipsed 23 feet just two weeks earlier at the NCAA West Regional.
Jones becomes just the second NCAA outdoor long jump champion in Stanford history, joining Jackie Edwards, who claimed the national title in 1992 at 6.59 meters (21-7½). Edwards also captured the NCAA indoor long jump crown that same season with a mark of 6.62 meters (21-8¾).
Now an 11-time All-American, Jones will continue her NCAA Championships in the women's high jump on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Juliette Whittaker secured her spot in Saturday's 800-meter final after running a season-best 1:59.92 in the opening semifinal. Racing in the lead pack throughout the race, Whittaker comfortably finished second behind Hayley Kitching of Penn State. She will race for her third NCAA title on Saturday evening after sweeping the indoor and outdoor 800-meter championships in 2024.
Mena Scatchard earned second-team All-America honors with a 14th-place finish in the women's 1,500 meters, clocking 4:10.20 in her semifinal heat. The result capped an exceptional season on The Farm for the Princeton graduate transfer, who finished the year as the No. 2 performer in Stanford history in the 1,500 meters and a school record holder in both the distance medley relay and 4x800-meter relay.
Jones and Whittaker will conclude the 2025-26 campaign on Saturday, with the final day of competition at Hayward Field beginning at 4:30 p.m. on ESPN2.