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Top Rowlett Sports Story of 2012: Goodwin wins long jump at U.S. Olympic Trials, qualifies for 2012 Olympics
By DEVIN HASSON, dhasson@starlocalnews.com
There are few things in sports that match the accomplishment of competing in the Olympics.
Every four years, the best athletes from all over the world come together to represent their respective countries in what for most is the pinnacle of their athletic careers.
Rowlett graduate Marquise Goodwin had made a huge impact on the football field and in track and field for both the Eagles and the University of Texas, but he always stated his biggest dream was to qualify for the Olympic Games.
Goodwin, just a few weeks removed from capturing the NCAA championship in the long jump, posted a career-best mark with a jump of 27-04 to win the United States Olympic Track and Field Trials at Oregon's Haywood Field in Eugene.
In clinching a chance to compete in the 2012 Olympics in London, Goodwin was the first athlete to win both the NCAA title and U.S. Olympic Trails title in the same year since 1960.
Goodwin got off to a good start on the first day of competition in London, as his first jump resulted in an automatic qualifying distance of 8.11 meters, which tied for the longest of the day, to push him on to the 12-person finals on Saturday.
Goodwin, though, was unable to recapture that magic in the finals.
After scratching on his first attempt, he followed that with a jump of 7.80 meters, which left him in 10thplace and needing to get into the top eight to earn three additional attempts.
It was not meant to be, though, as his final mark of 7.75 fell short of the top eight, with Goodwin dropping to his knees in disappointment after seeing his final jump posted.
Greg Rutherford of Great Britain won the gold medal with a mark of 8.31 meters, a distance Goodwin had eclipsed at the U.S. Olympic Trials with his winning jump of 8.32.
Mitchell Watt of Australia claimed the silver with a jump of 8.16 while Goodwin's American teammate, Will Claye, took the bronze with a mark of 8.12.
There was no time off for Goodwin, as he returned to Austin to complete his senior season at Texas, where the team posted a 8-4 record and earned a spot in the Valero Alamo Bowl.
While making a run at making the NFL is always an option, Goodwin will also turn professional in track after the spring season.
He will be 25 when the 2016 Olympics take place in Rio de Janiero, and Goodwin would like to not only repeat the dream of competing at the Olympics, but also realize the ultimate goal of winning a gold medal.
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