Haley, a yellow lab, has put labradors back on top with a new world record leap of 23 feet, 4 inches in the Big Air competition.

NORTHFIELD, MN — The Labrador Retriever is back on top of the world, at least for now.

Haley, a 16-month-old yellow Labrador retriever from Bloomington, Minnesota, has set a new world record in Big Air competition with a jump of 23 feet, 4 inches. The new record is a full 3 inches longer than the existing record set at by Jerry, a half English pointer, half Chesapeake retriever, that won the gold medal at the ESPN's Great Outdoor Games in Lake Placid.

Haley's jump not only qualified the young dog for the Great Outdoor Games, and instantly made her a favorite for the Gold, but also returned sole bragging rights to a breed known for their jumping ability.

Big Air is the canine version of the long jump, except dogs jump into water instead of sand.

Since the inception of the Big Air competition, Labradors have basically ruled the roost.

Heidi, a black Labrador handled by Beth Gutteridge, was the first gold medallist in the event and consequently, the first world record holder. It stayed that way for much of a year, with several dogs coming close, but none up to the task of edging Heidi's jump of more than 20 feet.

Then came the 2001 Great Outdoor Games, and Jerry, the half-English pointer, half Chesapeake retriever. The dog sailed to a 23 feet, 1 inch, not only winning the gold medal, but also sailing past the world record, by more than two feet.

The headlines read: Mutt Rocks Big Air records.

Consequently, Jerry, who is handled by Mike Wallace, has had to withstand several challenges from Labradors all season. For instance Little Morgan, a black Labrador from Shakopee, Minn. tied Jerry's world record mark, but has been the only real challenge until Haley came along.

And that challenge almost didn't come. Haley's record was basically a product of a whim by the dog's 17-year old handler, John Kline of Bloomington, Minn.

Jerry, who trains, by fetching rocks for Mike Wallace wasn't expected to fare as well as he did last season. And it's been much the same for Haley as well.

"We knew Haley could jump so we decided to give the event a whirl," handler, John Kline, said. "We never expected her to break the World Record, though. We figured she would be pretty average."

Haley qualified through the Super Retriever Series; a two-event qualifying round that took place in Northfield, Minn.

Now Kline and family are gearing up for the 2002 Great Outdoor Games in Lake Placid.

"They announced that I was going to the Games to my high school this morning, which was pretty incredible," Kline said.

The coming competition between world record holders will certainly be interesting. But in truth, when Jerry and Haley square off in July at the Great Outdoor Games. At that point and time, world records probably won't matter, gold medals, however, will.