Irving, Texas – Behind his No. 1 triple mark in the US in the triple jump, Chengetayi Du Mapaya earned Big 12 Athlete of the Week honours.
The Big 12 Athlete of the Week is awarded to the student athlete who would’ve excelled in the Big 12 Conference, a college athletic conference headquartered in Irving, Texas, USA, which consists of ten full-member universities.
𝐃𝐮 𝐌𝐚𝐩𝐚𝐲𝐚, @TCUTrackField #Big12TF Athlete of the Week
📰 https://t.co/D93ps4I3ag pic.twitter.com/B0LWO3rWrc
— Big 12 Conference (@Big12Conference) February 2, 2022
Mapaya won the triple jump at the Texas Tech Open & Multis with a mark of 16.48m. He only needed one jump to win the event and earn the best mark in the country.
His mark of 16.48 meters marks first in the NCAA and 10th worldwide.
The Harare, Zimbabwe native returns this season to defend his national title in the outdoor triple jump from 2019. Last season, he soared to a silver medal as he finished second at the 2021 NCAA Indoor Championships with a mark of 16.95m (55-7.5).
As a freshman in 2018, Mapaya reached the championship in the triple jump and finished third with a 16.38m jump.
Mapaya secured the 2019 outdoor national championship in the most dramatic fashion possible.
Going into his sixth and final jump of the night, Mapaya was in third place after a jump of 16.94m (55-7) in his fifth attempt.
On the final jump of the competition, Mapaya jumped 17.13m (56-2.5) passing up event leader Jordan Scott of Virginia (17.01m, 55-9.75) and winning the national championship. It was TCU’s first national title in track and field since Ronnie Baker won the 60m dash in 2016.
He broke the school record in the triple jump at last year’s NCAA Indoor Championships with a mark of 16.95m (55-7.5). He currently holds both the indoor and outdoor TCU triple jump records.