Ohio State's Zack Bazile came up with the greatest performance of his life when it mattered most on Wednesday when New Jersey native soared a school record 27-5 1/2 to win the NCAA Division 1 long jump title at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.
The 27-5 1/2 by Bazile, a 2014 graduate of NJ's St. Joseph (Mont.), is No. 10 in the world this season, tied for No. 4 in NCAA history, and shattered the Ohio State record of 26-9 set by Michael Hartsfield in 2013. Bazile is the first Buckeye to win an NCAA title since Chris Nelloms won the 200 in 1993.
Bazile, who had a previous best of 26-7, won the competition by nearly 14 inches over runner-up Jordan Latimer of Akron.
Bazile, now a four-time All-American in the long jump, is the second New Jersey athlete to capture a national title in the long jump this season.
Last month, Montclair State's George Alexandris, a graduate of Fair Lawn High School, won the NCAA Division 3 long jump championhip.