Jones qualifies for long jump final

Sydney: Marion Jones of the United States survived what she called the toughest day of her hectic Olympic schedule on Wednesday by qualifying for the semifinals of the 200-metre event and the final of the long jump.

She ended her busy programme with the long jump, believed to be the event in which she is most vulnerable. She leaped 6.78 metres - eight centimetres over the qualifying standard - at her first attempt.

Jones' jumping technique is rudimentary but she can outclass the field with just one jump if she gets everything right.

"I've always said that today was the most difficult day for me, having two rounds of the 200 and the long jump in the evening," she said after her opening 200m race.



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