A long jumper takes flight in an attempt to jump the longest distance possible in a track competition.
A long jumper tries to beat the person before him, but he hasn't performed well recently.
The long jumper attempting to jump the longest possible distance is normal, but doesn't imply that he hasn't performed well recently.
The long jumper hasn't necessarily not performed well recently just because he hasn't beat the longest distance record yet.
A long jumper can be going first, instead of after the person before him.  A long jumper does not necessarily have to be in a situation where he hasn't performed well recently.