In 2004, Hoffa failed to advance to the medal round. Four years later, he scratched on his final two throws and finished in seventh place.
This time, the 34-year-old appears to be in peak form. In June, he won the U.S. Olympic trials with a throw of 72 feet, 2¼ inches – a mark that would have won gold in the 2008 Olympics.
George Kitchens will attempt to reach the long jump finals today beginning at 2:50 p.m. If he makes the finals, they will be held Saturday beginning at 2:55 p.m.
He secured his spot in London by jumping a personal-best 26 feet, 11 1/4 inches (8.21 meters), which gave him the Olympic “A” standard and a third-place finish.
Kitchens said his goal is to post a jump of 8.95 meters – a mark that would set the Olympic long jump record and tie Mike Powell for the world record.
