Arizona senior Edgar Rivera-Morales set the Mexican national indoor record and the UA school record with a jump of 7 feet, 5 inches at the Razorback Invitational on Friday night in Fayetteville, Ark.
Rivera-Morales' jump wiped out the school record that had stood for 34 years -- James Frazier's mark of 7-4.75 from 1979. Rivera-Morales had shared the Mexican national record of 7-4.25 with Gerardo Martinez. His jump is the sixth best in the world this year.
“I felt really good,” Rivera-Morales said. “Before coming here, I had the school record in mind, and as the meet proceeded I started feeling good, so I felt it could happen today. My jump felt really good and my approach felt really good and it was a good meet. I feel I’m in a good position right now after two meets, and from now I’m just going to keep working hard and hopefully keep improving every meet.”
Senior Brigetta Barrett, the Olympic silver medalist, made her 2013 debut with a clearance of 6-3.25 (1.91m), good for first place. That clearance was good for the collegiate leading mark and is tied for the No. 2 mark in the world this year. Barrett’s streak of victories over collegiate competition has now reached 18.
“I think I jumped really well,” Barrett said. “I felt a little nervous coming into this meet because I rested a lot more coming into the indoor season and I didn’t feel as prepared as normal. But, I’m actually really happy because this is the highest I’ve jumped in an opening meet. There’s definitely a lot of work to do still but I’m happy with this meet as far as the clearance and the fact that I was able to open up really well.”
