It was pretty clear to anybody paying attention to Jonathan Gardner that the Georgia Tech junior triple jumper was having issues when he started off Saturday at the NCAA Track & Field Championships in Eugene, Ore.

His first two efforts were just over 45 feet and then just over 44, both well below the baseline in the event let alone his career best of 52'4" earlier in the school year. He was struggling to even walk upon crawling out of the sand pit.

Gardner has also battled intermittent problems with his right hamstring. He kept the faith, though, because that's what he does. Gardner eventually went 52 feet, 2 ¾ inches. That triple held up for seventh place and earned All-America honors.