Men's Long Jump preview

It's safe to say this is not a classic generation of long jumpers - there's no Bob Beamon, Carl Lewis or Mike Powell here. On this year's best efforts, there are 13 guys within 12cm (8.24-8.35m), and those who have PBs greater than 8.50m have a range of queries against them. So we'll either get someone smash their PB to win by a foot or it could go right down to the wire. Do we go for the limited jumper who is consistent at about 8.20, the erratic guy with the potential to jump 8.60 after a series of fouls and sub-8m leaps, or even a new guy coming through with the potential to improve his best? Might have to go for a couple of guys here.

Sebastian Bayer set an outdoor PB just a month ago in the European Championships, 8.34, and importantly, with the lowest wind assistance of the top leaps this season. He also has an indoor PB of 8.71, so is capable of better. In form at the right time, and capable of going further - good signs. His qualifying efforts weren't brilliant, but that adds to the price so it's worth the risk.

For the blowout chance, I'm going to have a tiny wager on Aussie Henry Frayne. PBs this year both indoor and outdoor, tied for silver at the World Indoors in March and will have much lesser pressure on him than his countryman Mitchell Watt. He's only young, relatively new on the circuit, a PB to challenge for the podium is not out of the question. Each-way at 25s or bigger, paying three places is worth a few coins.

BETS 1pt ew Bayer 10 Sportingbet (paying 1/5 1,2,3), bet down to 8.
0.1pt ew Frayne 51 Boylesports (paying 1/5 1,2,3), bet down to 26

Comments

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