Jonah Tactay improved his long jump finish by four places over 2021. Photo by Kevin Neri
Oregon junior Jonah Tactay came off the field a big smile after winning the men’s long jump Friday afternoon with a jump of 23 feet, 4 ¾ inches at the Oregon Relays.
His winning jump came on his second attempt. Dominic Langley, competing unattached, leaped 23- 31/4 on his third jump for second place. Emmanuel “EJ” Ihemeje, the 2021 indoor and outdoor triple jump champion, placed third with a mark of 22-4 ¼.
Tactay, who was a two-time NWAC Southern Regional Champion at Lane Community College, placed fifth at last year’s Oregon Relays with a jump nearly a foot shorter than Friday’s winning mark. “There’s definitely a lot more fans yelling for me with the O on me,” Tactay said.
Even while attending a community college, it was apparent Tactay could compete at higher levels if he could focus on his diet and training.
“I had a lot of potential but wasn’t doing the sacrificial stuff to be great,” he said. “The biggest difference has been diet, just eating right.”
Finding new ways to add more flavor to his new diet has been interesting for Tactay. “People always say that abs are made in the kitchen, not the weight room,” Tactay said with a smile on his face.
Tactay has his eyes set on continuing to get better and make a name for himself at the University of Oregon. “The goal is regionals, maybe even go 1-2 with EJ,” he said. “I think we can do it.”
