BATON ROUGE - LSU Track & Field alumnus Jeremy Hicks was crowned the men's long jump champion for the third time in four years at the USA Indoor Track & Field Championships after posting a mark of 26 feet, 2 ¾ inches during Saturday's action at the Albuquerque Convention Center in Albuquerque, N.M.

Hicks opened the competition with a jump of 25-11 in the first round before improving to 26-2 ¾ in the fifth round to claim his third-straight U.S. Indoor gold medal in the event.

Hicks finished nearly six inches clear of the field as Ohio State's Michael Hartfield scored the silver medal with a jump of 25-9 ¼ and Mikese Morse took home the bronze medal with a mark of 25-1 ¾.

The Texan has now been crowned the U.S. Indoor Champion three times during his professional career as he took the title for the first time during the 2010 campaign with a winning leap of 26-0 ¾ before defending his title in 2011 with a top jump of 25-2 as each event was also held at the Albuquerque Convention Center.

Hicks, a four-time NCAA All-American and 2009 NCAA Indoor silver medalist in the long jump, has enjoyed great success in his professional career as one of the elite long jumpers in the United States. The Tiger great set a lifetime personal best of 26-7 ¼ during the 2012 season before competing at the U.S. Olympic Track & Field Trials in Eugene, Ore.

He has also won the long jump bronze medal at the USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships when jumping a windy 26-7 during the 2011 outdoor season.