By Frank Pingue
TORONTO, July 22 (Reuters) - National Football League
speedster Marquise Goodwin turned heads at the Pan American
Games by winning a silver medal in men's long jump on Wednesday.
The 24-year-old American, who is scheduled to attend NFL
training camp next week with the Buffalo Bills, had a
season-best jump of 8.27 metres in the third of six rounds to
earn his first medal in international competition.
"Not much training. My second meet of the year and coming
out with a silver medal is pretty, pretty good to me," Goodwin,
who was drafted by the Bills in 2013, told reporters. "Obviously
I wanted gold but silver came."
While known for his American football career as a wide
receiver, Goodwin finished 10th in the long jump at the 2012
London Olympics and only needed one attempt to qualify for the
Pan Am final, jumping 8.05 metres in Tuesday's preliminary
round.
In his first jump of the final, he went a season-best 8.13m
to sit in second place then fell to third after Uruguay's
Emiliano Lasa jumped 8.17 in the second round but he responded
in style by setting a new season high.
"I've always dreamed of doing this. Of being able to be in
the NFL and do track and field at the same time," said Goodwin,
who endured an injury-filled 2014 NFL season.
"So it's kind of surreal having a stage like this and an
opportunity to represent my team in the NFL as well as (USA
Track & Field).
For the dual-sport athlete, competing in the Pan Am Games
fit nicely into his schedule but working on qualifying for the
2016 Rio Olympics, which will be in the middle of NFL training
camp, will be a much different matter.
"I love long jump. If I am granted the opportunity without
having to serve any repercussions for it then I will pursue it,"
said Goodwin.
"But obviously I am obligated to Buffalo Bills football so
that's the main focus."
(Editing by Greg Stutchbury)