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14, 2004 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Release by Mike Marzolf Photo available upon request |
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Davis
makes return trip to Olympics; medal on the mind this time around Davis graduated from Barton in the Spring of 2000, later that year he was in Sydney triple jumping for the United States in the 2000 Summer Olympic Games. That was the last time Davis was on campus until this February. Davis was inducted into the Cougar Sports Hall of Fame as a member of the 2004 class. And, coincidently, Davis finds himself jumping in the Olympics once again. Perhaps a return visit in 2008 is in order. “It was nice to come back, I wanted to go back one time,” Davis said of his return to Barton County this past winter. “I didn’t know it would be that soon but I wanted to go back at least one time. Now I’ll go back again in 08. I’ll make the trip early in the season before the trials again. I think it is the cold weather that gets me ready.” Davis will begin his 2004 Olympics Friday, Aug. 20 at 1:55 pm CDT when the preliminaries of the triple jump begin. The triple jump finals will take place Sunday, Aug. 22. Davis will also participate in the long jump competition, which will take place on Aug. 24 and 26.
The summer Davis’ graduation from Barton he burst into the national spotlight at the US Olympic Trials finishing 3rd in both the long jump and triple jump and qualifying for the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Davis chose to compete in only the triple jump, taking 11th at the 2000 Summer Olympics. Louisiana State University was the next stop as Davis’ star continued to soar with his jumps. Davis became one of the top jumpers in the NCAA while at LSU. His 1st year with the Tigers, Davis won the NCAA Championships in the triple jump both indoors and outdoors and took 2nd in the long jump both indoors and outdoors. That season he scored 18 points by himself in the NCAA Indoor meet to pace LSU to the title with 34 points. Davis won 3 NCAA titles his senior season at LSU, winning both triple jumps again as well as the outdoor long jump title. He took 2nd in the long jump indoors.
Before the hectic pace of making a run for the Olympics again this year, Davis came back to Barton to earn induction into the Cougars Sports Hall of Fame. At the USA Olympic Trials, Davis took 2nd in the triple jump and 4th in the long jump, but moved onto the USA Olympic team in the long jump when the 3rd place finisher didn’t make the Olympic A qualifying standard. Now with the Olympics nearing, Davis is fully focused on the task at hand. And he is a more ‘grown up’ jumper this time around. “This is a lot different. Last time I didn’t know what to expect, this time I know what to expect, Davis said. “I’ve been jumping against the same guys for about 2 year now. I know that everybody that is going to be out there I’ve beaten already. I know I can beat them again. I have much more confidence this time around.” This time Davis will be jumping in both events. A task he wasn’t ready to take on in 2000 “I did both of them in the trials this year and felt pretty good,” Davis said. “I’m much stronger and more confidence and wiser. I know what to do. I don’t have to take all 6 jumps, I know how to conserve my body and make the jumps I do take good jumps.”
“I want to come back with a medal,” Davis said. “When I went in 2000 I was young and didn’t know what to expect. Coach (Lance) Brauman couldn’t coach me. He was way up in the stands and couldn’t tell me what I was doing wrong. I know that won’t be as important this time around since I’ve been in Europe for 2 years and have learned how to adjust.” Davis also had a good friend and training partner making the trip with him this year in another former Cougar – John Moffitt. Moffitt followed Davis to Barton – two years behind Davis – then to LSU and now to the Olympics in the long jump. The two train together and are slated to room together in Athens. Davis provides guidance to his younger counterpart. “Walter’s been a good person to me, like a big brother,” Moffitt said. “He has been someone to look up to and give me advice. Walter is a great part of my success in life. We talk a lot. He has been telling me what to expect and what not to expect. We just talk a lot about stuff. He really helps me a lot.” Davis has high aspirations for not only himself but Moffitt and has an ultimate goal he would like to see. “In practice I’ve been telling him what to expect when we get there,” Davis said. “When we are on the runway we will be able to help each other out since we practice together. If everything goes good we will both be on the medal stand.” -30- Check out Barton
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Perhaps
a visit to the campus of Barton County Community College every four
years is now in order for Walter Davis. It seems to be a good formula
for former track and field star for the Cougars – as long
as it comes in an Olympic year. 
Davis,
a native of Louisiana, has accomplished a lot in his four years
away from Barton County – where he left the most prolific
jumper in school history. He departed Barton as the record holder
in all four vertical jumping events – the long jump both indoors
and outdoors as well as the triple jump indoors and outdoors. He
left with 6 NJCAA Championships and school record marks in four
events. Davis still holds the Cougars Indoor Long Jump record at
26-0.75 and the Outdoor Long Jump mark at 26-9.75. His triple jump
marks (54-1 indoors and 56-0.5 outdoors) have both fallen to 3rd
all-time behind fellow 2004 Olympians Leevan Sands and LeJuan Simon.
That
summer Davis began his professional career by winning the USA National
triple jump title and was ranked No. 3 in the world in both jumping
events. Last year saw Davis take 2nd in the World Indoor Championships
in the triple jump at 8th at the World Outdoor Championships. He
also captured the USA Outdoor long jump title to give him USA titles
in both jumping events.
And
Davis has set goals this year at the Olympics.