Burges grad KeAndre Bates wins gold in long jump at NCAA Nationals

Former Burges standout KeAndre Bates seized a gold medal at the 2017 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Nationals in Eugene, Oregon, on Wednesday in the long jump.

On his sixth and last attempt in the finals, the junior recorded a jump of 26 feet, 5 inches to put him at the top of the leaderboard.

That mark held up, and the former Mustang turned Florida Gator claimed gold.

Florida freshman Grant Holloway took the silver in the event. It marked the first time since 1987 that athletes from the same school claimed the top two spots in the long jump.

Bates still has one more event remaining at nationals – the triple jump.

He told reporters on Wednesday that he was hoping he and teammate Clayton Brown would be able to take gold and silver in that event as well.