Makusha, Dix shine for Seminoles

at the IAAF World Athletics Championships in Daegu, Korea.
Makusha (24), who authored one of the finest sprint/jump seasons in National Collegiate Athletics Association history in 2011 for Florida State in the United States, posted an opening jump of 8,29 metres.
Though he was unable to better that mark on his subsequent four attempts, Makusha came away with the bronze medal.
It was a redeeming turn of events for the affable Seminole, who won the 100m and long jump and anchored Florida State University’s winning 4x100m relay team in the team’s runner-up performance at the NCAA Championships three months ago.
Despite boasting one of the top times in the world in the 100 metres this season, Makusha was eliminated in the World Championship semifinal round.
“I would say he’s happy with a bronze, but competitive nature being what it is, feels like he could have done better,” said veteran FSU jumps coach Dennis Nobles, who was on hand as Makusha’s coach. “Any real competitor would probably feel the same.”
Veteran US jumper Dwight Phillips grabbed the gold with a season-best leap of 8,45m, followed by Australia’s Mitchell Watt (8,33m).
Another former Seminole sprint great, Walter Dix, added to his World Championships medal collection. After scoring a silver medal in the 100-meter dash earlier in the week, Dix took silver in the 200m.
The South Florida native and reigning US champion improved on that time in the third heat of the semifinals, winning in 20.37.
It was the fourth-fastest time of the semifinal rounds, where France’s Christophe Lemaitre opened eyes with his first heat win in a blistering season-best 20.17, pulling away from Jamaica’s Nickel Ashmeade (20.32). Bolt won the second heat in 20.31.
The only other former ‘Noles in action Friday were the Borlee brothers – Jonathan and Kevin – who contributed to Belgium’s fifth-place finish in the 4x400m finals in a season-best time of 3:00.41.
There was very little margin for error in Friday’s final even, which the US won in 2:59.31. Germany finished eighth in 3:01.37. – Seminoles.com.