George Mason’s Gage Shocked The NCAA LJ In 1988

Nena Gage began electrifying in the long jump early at the 1988 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships at Hayward Field in Eugene.

The George Mason senior PRed by more than six inches in the qualifying round at 6.51m (21-4¼), second best of the day and a mark that moved her to No. 5 on the seasonal list of collegians.

It was big news, certainly, but her best was yet to come.

Two days later in the final, Gail Devers of UCLA opened up at 6.55m (21-6), and that held up for the lead until Round 3 when Gage shockingly took over at 6.62m (21-8¾). The wind reading of 2.2 meters per second was just over allowable for record purposes, but the performance was four inches farther than Gage had ever jumped before – adding more than 10 inches to her best since before the meet began.

With three rounds left, Gage felt like many people. “I still figured she was going to do it in the finals,” she said of Devers afterwards to Dave Kayfes of the Eugene Register-Guard.

Gage, however, continued to lead as the last round came down to two final attempts. Devers, jumping just ahead of Gage, closed with a foul. Gage, with victory secure, then equaled the second-longest jump of her life at 21-4¼ (also wind-aided).

“When I saw the red flag, I knew it was over,” Gage said. “It was exciting. It was like being at home. The surface is like we have at home, and I saw a lot of green and gold (the Patriots’ colors are similar to host Oregon’s). Everything just came together.”