EUGENE, Ore. – Anthony Buford finished fifth in the long jump at the USA Track & Field U20 Championships on Thursday afternoon at Hayward Field.
 
Buford recorded a mark of 7.14m on his third jump of the day, securing a top-five finish in a highly competitive field featuring top athletes from across the country.
 
"After banging up his ankle on practice day, Anthony showed tremendous grit and toughness to make the finals and finish fifth," said Milwaukee head coach Andrew Basler.
 
The original field of 12 competitors was whittled down to eight following the first three attempts. The third round proved pivotal, with four of the top five athletes posting their best marks during that round.
 
Buford added two more jumps of greater than seven meters in the finals, reaching 7.12m in the fourth round and 7.06m in his fifth attempt.
 
"He had a great freshman season performance-wise but more importantly learned a lot about what it takes to operate as a top collegiate athlete," Basler added. "I'm excited for Anthony's upcoming years and know he will accomplish any goals he sets for himself here at Milwaukee."
 
The event caps off an impressive rookie season for the Detroit native, who claimed silver at the Horizon League Indoor Track & Field Championships before winning gold at the Outdoor Championships in May. Following his standout performances, Buford was named Horizon League Freshman of the Year for both the indoor and outdoor seasons.