AUSTIN, Texas – University at Albany men's long jumper Louis Gordon placed 11th in his primary event at the 2023 NCAA Outdoor Championships.  Gordon is the Great Danes' highest finisher at the outdoor championship meet since Venique Brown, née Harris, placed sixth in the women's discus in 2019, and the highest men's finisher since Matthew Campbell placed seventh in the men's high jump in 2016.
 
Gordon, who recorded the 10th-best qualifying mark from the East and West Preliminary Rounds, drew position 12 in flight two in Wednesday's event final.  The two flights were contested concurrently.
 
Gordon fouled his first attempt, but regrouped on his second to record a personal-best of 25-06.00, breaking his own school record of 25-04.75 set in 2022.  His second jump briefly placed him ninth in the event standings in progress, in the final place in the qualifying pool to advance to finals and earn three additional attempts, but he was quickly bumped to 10th, and then 11th, with one final attempt to earn back his spot in the final.
 
On his third attempt, Gordon recorded a mark of 25-01.75, ending his competition and the 2022-23 UAlbany collegiate season.  His second attempt held on for 11th place.  The final qualifying spot went to Rutgers sophomore Sincere Robinson, who recorded a mark of 25-08.25.  The top overall qualifier was Arkansas senior Carey McLeod, who set a facility record on his first attempt of 27-01.25.
 
By placing 11th, Gordon earns All-America Second Team honors, the first Great Dane to do so since Grace Claxton in 2016 in the women's 400m hurdles.