Jeremiah Davis is officially an Olympian. USA Track adds Lehigh alum to Paris Games roster

On Tuesday, USA Track and Field made it official ― Lehigh Senior High alum Jeremiah Davis is an Olympian.

The team released its 120-member roster for the Paris Olympic Games on Tuesday afternoon and Davis, a Florida State junior, is one of three long jumpers who will represent the USA along with Florida's Malcolm Clemons from the University of Florida and Jarrion Lawson.

Although Davis won the U.S. Olympic Trials on June 24, he was not guaranteed a USATF roster spot because he had not attained the Olympic Standard of 8.27 meters. He had to wait for the finalized World Athletic Rankings as the Top 25 earned berths to the Games. Davis was ranked No. 23.

The Olympic track and field competition begins in Paris on Aug. 1 and concludes on Aug. 11.

At the U.S. Olympic Trials

In the third of six rounds, Davis jumped a season-high 8.20 meters — a mark that wouldn't be bested the rest of the way ― to win the trials at the University of Oregon on June 24.

“It was a boost of confidence," Davis told The News-Press the night of the trials. "Because I was able to see myself being at the top, and trying to put out a mark where it threw everyone else off their game because they had to chase me, instead of me chasing someone else. I wanted to try and take the lead as early as possible, and just keep building from there.

... You have that little voice in your head telling you, maybe you can't do it. But me, I just shut that voice up and prayed on it. I just believed in myself more than I ever did before. I knew I was able to do it."

Davis excels at Florida State

At Florida State, Davis made an immediate impact, posting a personal best in the long jump with a mark of 7.69 meters, which was second of all freshmen in the country. Year by year, Davis improved, posting a world-leading mark of 8.21 meters earlier this season at the Razorback Invitational. 

Davis secured his second career NCAA runner-up finish in the event with a season-best of 8.07m (26-5¾) last month, capturing his third consecutive outdoor first-team All-American honors. 

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"I'm really proud of Jeremiah," FSU track and field head coach Bob Braman said. "He's been dominating the field and was runner-up at Hayward two years ago as well. "I'm hoping the jumping gods shine on him in his final collegiate jump competition on Friday. He's a true warrior."

Davis at Lehigh Senior High

During his time at Lehigh, Davis was a two-time state champion in the long jump (7.17m) and triple jump (14.48m) during his senior year with the Lightning and was a two-time All-Area First Team selection by The News-Press.

"We know from Fort Myers, the biggest name as of now is Deion Sanders," Davis said. "I was telling my coach, one day I want to be one of those names and one of those people that's talked about a lot back home. In my opinion, it means a lot. To be able to show other people that's coming from where I'm coming from, we can do this. We can actually put our city on the map and be able to represent our country as well."