Dunbar High graduate Caleb Snowden, a senior at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, placed second in the men’s high jump at the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Finals Sunday night in Eugene, Oregon.
The Lehigh Acres native jumped a personal-best 2.27 meters (7 feet, 5 1/4 inches), placing behind winner Shelby McEwen, who jumped 2.30 meters or 7-6 1/2. Snowden’s previous best was 2.26 meters set on March 30.
Despite his finish, Snowden did not qualify for the Paris Olympic Games. He had not achieved the Olympic standard height of 2.33 meters (7-7 3/4) and the top 32 jumpers in the world qualify for the Games and Snowden entered the competition ranked 64th in the world.
Caleb Snowden a college star
The second at the U.S. Olympic Trials wrap up a strong competitive season for Snowden.
Snowden was one of only four HBCU athletes to qualify for the NCAA Division I Track & Field Championships and was the only one to finish in the top three in an individual event. He placed third, clearing a height of 2.23 meters or 7-3 3/4, which also earned him First Team All-America honors. He placed 11th at the NCAA championships last year. He also won the SWAC indoor and outdoor high jumps titles for the second year in a row.