AUSTIN, Texas, June 9, 2023 – University of South Florida track and field student-athlete Romaine Beckford won the men's high jump at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, concluding his undefeated 2023 campaign, while the Bulls finished 25th in the country as a team overall.

"What a great way to conclude our season," head coach Erik Jenkins said, "We had a very small group earn a spot in this meet. We gained valuable experience and had a national champion in the high jump. Romaine earned his second national championship in dramatic fashion against very elite competitors. It was fun to watch and we are very happy for his success."

Beckford finished with a jump of 2.27 meters (7-5.25), claiming the first-place position and a new program record. He also received the gold in the indoor season championship earlier in the season. Oklahoma's Vernon Turner was the only other competitor to clear the height, but had taken one more attempt than Beckford to clear the previous bar (2.24), so when Turner failed on his final try at 2.30, Beckford was officially the champ.

Even though his missed his own third shot at 2.30, Beckford raised his arms, clapping in triumph and then did a backflip knowing he had won.

Beckford entered the NCAA championships seeded fourth after winning back-to-back American Athletic Conference High Jump Championships with a leap of 2.17 meters (7-1.50) recently. In the indoor season, he won th AAC Championships with 2.26m (7-4.25) - that mark is now the AAC and USF program record as well.

Beckford is the Bulls' first national champion since 1993, when Jon Dennis claimed the title in the outdoor 5K. He was also named the American Athletic Conference Field Athlete of the Week twice earlier this season.
 

About USF Track and Field
The USF track and field team has earned 56 All-America selections and at least one All-American in 10 of the last 12 years, including a record eight athletes claiming 11 honors in 2021. Romaine Beckford won the 2023 NCAA Indoor Championship in the men's high jump. Tampa native Shaniya Benjamin set a program record earning three All-American honors during the 2021 outdoor season, while triple jumper Matthew O'Neal, a 2016 graduate, became USF's first six-time NCAA All-American. Bulls have posted two NCAA runner-up finishes since 2013 - O'Neal (triple jump, 2016) and Courtney Anderson (high jump, 2013). Head coach Erik Jenkins took over the program in 2020 and in the 2021 outdoor season the Bulls posted seven program records and 40 top 10 all-time program marks. USF hosted the 2018 NCAA Track and Field East Preliminary and the 2021 AAC Outdoor Championship at the USF Track and Field Stadium located on the east end of campus.