Further Information 

Competition Stats

AUSTRALIAN CHAMPIONSHIPS:
Long jump: 2004 - 2nd (U/20), 2005 - 1st (open and U/20), 2006 – qual round, 2007 – 2nd, 2008 – qual round, 2009 - 3rd

INTERNATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS:
World junior championships: 2004 - long jump 4th (7.66m), 2006 - long jump qual round (7.41m)
Commonwealth Youth Games: 2004 - long jump 1st (7.64m), 4 x 100m 3rd (42.05)
World youth championships: 2005 - long jump 1st (7.97m)
World championships: 2007 - long jump qual round (7.54m)

ANNUAL PROGRESSION:
2002 6.91m
2003 7.38m
2004 7.74m
2005 7.95m/8.00w
2006 7.85m
2007 8.12m
2008 7.72m/7.85w

EVENTS / PERSONAL BESTS:
Long jump: 8.12m - Nuoro (ITA), 11/07/07

RECORD(S):
National U20 record - long jump: 8.12m - Nuoro (ITA), 11/07/07
National U18 record - long jump: 7.95m - Marrakech (MAR), 15/07/05
National U16 record - long jump: 7.38m - Brisbane, 21/11/03

Interesting Facts

Chris has added to the growing number of elite long jumpers in this country including training partner Mitchell Watt, Robbie Crowther, Fabrice Lapierre and John Thornell. In late 2007 he re-located to the USA to join coach Mike Powell - his idol, the world record holder in the long jump and two-time world champion. He now trains alongside world championships long jump bronze medallist Mitchell Watt in Brisbane.

Sporting Career

After missing a medal at the 2004 world junior championships in Grosseto (ITA), Chris claimed gold at the Commonwealth Youth Games in Bendigo in December that year.

Victory at the Australian championships in 2005 catapulted his profile; Chris became the youngest Australian men’s champion in any discipline let alone the youngest long jumper to claim a national title.

He carried that form into the world youth championships in Marrakech (MOR), where he won gold with a leap of 7.95m that remains the Australian under 18 record.

2006 didn’t quite go as planned for Chris, bowing out in the early stages of the Australian championships and his second world junior championships. However, by season’s end he had bettered his 2004 efforts with a jump of 7.84m to finish sixth at the Shanghai Grand Prix meeting.

Wins at the 2007 Telstra A-Series meets in Canberra (8.05w) and Sydney (7.91w) preceded a second place at the Australian championships in March (7.97) before Chris embarked on a European campaign.

Competitions in Osaka, Spain, Germany and Italy brought mixed results against strong fields until a massive leap and personal best of 8.12m at the Delogu Memorial meet in Nuoro earned him No. 8 on the Australian all-time list. (The little-known meet had become a fruitful destination for Australian jumpers; at the same venue a year earlier, Fabrice Lapierre posted 8.19m.)

Eclipsing the B-qualifying standard, Chris firmed as a prospect for his first world championships and was added to the final Australian team to compete in Osaka on August 13.

In Osaka, Chris’ best jump was well below what he was capable of. Struggling with the conditions, he posted 7.54m in the qualifying rounds - an effort well behind the best qualifier’s mark of 8.28m. Nevertheless, he was openly appreciative of his selection and the experience.

Chris re-located to the USA in November under the guidance of long jump great Mike Powell. Returning in early 2008 to compete in the domestic season, Chris contested the Australian championships but wasn’t jumping his best, missing the final with 7.47m. He went on to compete in a number of meets on the European circuit.

Family Connections
Chris and his brother Joel were introduced to Little Athletics when they were five. Joel finished second in the long jump at the 2003 Australian Under-20 Championships. Chris’ cousin Ashley Noffke plays cricket for Queensland.