EUGENE -- ChaQuinn Cook's dramatic breakthrough in the triple jump suddenly has become a story line for this week's NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
The University of Oregon sophomore came flying out of what seemed like nowhere to win last month's Pac-12 meet with a jump of 44 feet, 11/2 inches, a personal record by more than two feet.
She followed that by going 44-4 to win the NCAA West Regional two weeks ago in Austin, Texas, putting her just 1/4 inch from Lauryn Newson's school record of 44-41/4.
"She is probably a year away from being special," UO coach Robert Johnson says.