Americans try for medals in long jump

Close finish for gold

 

Jeff Henderson won gold in the Olympic long jump Saturday night at the Rio Games, lunging 8.38 meters for a Team USA victory.

South Africa's Luvo Manyonga came in a close second for silver at 8.37 meters. Great Britain earned the bronze medal with Greg Rutherford's 8.29 meter jump.

Rutherford edged out favored U.S. jumper Jarrion Lawson.

Lawson, a 22-year-old Texas native, won bronze in the men's long jump at the 2012 World Junior Championships.

He created some buzz about his chances in Rio when he won the 100m, 200m and the long jump at the 2016 NCAA outdoor championships, something only previously accomplished by Jesse Owens.

In qualifying for the long jump at the U.S. Olympic Trials in July, Lawson broke his personal best distance with a jump of 8.58 meters.

It's the first time the U.S. has won a medal in this event since 2004.