By Brandon Davis

When track and field super-leaper Andre Black decided to attend the University of Louisville, those familiar with the sport may have questioned the conventionality of that decision. But over the course of his career as a Cardinal, Black has proven that he is far from the typical athlete.
A native of Mobile, Alabama, Black came to U of L as one of the most sought after recruits in the country out of McGill Toolen High School. A two-time Alabama state champion in the long jump, he was named a Nike All-American in the triple jump as a senior and signed with U of L as the No. 10 ranked indoor triple jumper in the nation.
“U of L was really an up and coming program when I first got here,” Black said. “I wanted to build my own legacy and I saw U of L as the perfect opportunity, especially with coaches like Ron Mann and Jake Jacoby coming in.”
Since arriving on campus, Black has not wasted any time in developing into one of the Cardinals’ most gifted and accomplished athletes of all time. As a sophomore, he became just the second athlete in school history to win a Track and Field National Championship with his indoor triple jump performance.
In the same year, Black also finished No. 2 in the triple jump at the NCAA Outdoor Championships and was named Southeast District Field Athlete of the Year by the US Track & Field Coaches Association.
Last year, Black closed out a terrific outdoor season with a Big East Championship and finished second in the NCAA Championships.
“Andre is one of the real joys there is in Track and Field,” Ron Mann, U of L Track and Field head coach, said. “As a coach, you’re always going to know he’s going to be ready to go. [Andre]’s one of those guys that’s a go to guy whose going to find a way to make it happen.”
Black currently holds school records in the indoor and outdoor triple jump. A few weeks ago in the Kentucky Invitational, Black recorded the best NCAA triple jump mark of the season with a leap of 53 feet, 1.5 inches. His performance in the meet earned him an automatic NCAA qualifying bid to this year’s championships and the honor of being named male BIG EAST Field Athlete of the Week. 
“I felt alright about it,” Black said, of his performance at the Kentucky Invitational. “I mean, I wasn’t satisfied with it, but it’s still early in the season so hopefully I got a lot more left in me. I just enjoy being out there on the track and representing the University of Louisville.”
Despite his early success, Black’s coaches have had no problems motivating him to continue improving.
“He’s a model athlete,” Jake Jacoby, U of L assistant coach, said. “He’s determined; he wants to be a pro; he wants to go to the Olympics and he’s put the time into it and he’s determined to get it done.”
While obtaining the title of national champion may carry the expectations of performing at a consistent high level, Black embraces those expectations as motivation to continue meeting them in every competition.
“I pretty much feed off of the competition,” Black said. “Having people look up at you and want to beat you, makes you work that much harder in practice in doing the little things right. And I love it.”
Though he has compiled quite the impressive career as a student athlete, according to his coaches, the best is still to come. 
“He is certainly among the best I’ve ever coached,” Mann said. “Andre is certainly capable of looking towards the [Olympic Games] in 2012.”