In Presence of Greatness, Powell Soars : Long jump: With Bob Beamon on hand, Olympic silver medalist leaps 27 feet 8 inches to win.

It wasn’t until Bob Beamon began to walk away that Mike Powell first took notice.

Beamon, the legendary world-record holder in the long jump, was at the U.S. Olympic Festival track and field competition, sitting in the front row of the stands at UCLA’s Drake Stadium, as Powell readied himself for his jumps.

Powell, a silver medalist at the 1988 Olympics and a former standout at UC Irvine and UCLA, began to take off his sweats and portable headphones in preparation for his third jump when he noticed Beamon leaving the area behind the long jump runway.

“I’m thinking, ‘Hey, don’t you walk away from me while I’m on the runway,’ ” Powell said.

Not if you want to miss the best jump of the day.

Powell stood at the end of the runway, encouraging the crowd to cheer him on. With one big hop, Powell took off, sprinting down the runway as about 3,500 fans applauded rhythmically.

Powell hit the board and lunged. The crowd roared. His jump was measured at 27 feet 8 inches.

It didn’t quite match his career best of 28-5--the best mark in the world last year--and it was hardly a threat to Beamon’s legendary best of 29-2 1/2, but Powell was satisfied. After all, he said, this is only the U.S. Olympic Festival.

“This was more of a practice meet for me,” said Powell, of Alta Loma.

The crowd didn’t seem to care. Powell’s efforts--even his jogs between jumps--were greeted with good cheer.

“Do it Mike! Do it Mike!” one man roared.

“C’mon Mike! Let’s see 29!” another shouted.

About the only fan who kept quiet was Beamon, who was on hand to present medals to the winners of the blind 200-meter event.

While Powell smiled and waved to the crowd during the competition, Beamon was somewhat stoic. Actually, nonstop autograph seekers--”Sign my shirt, Mr. Beamon!” “Sign my poster, sir!” “Sign my spikes . . . “--seemed to annoy him as he was trying to watch the competition.

Asked what he thought of Powell’s chances of a world record, Beamon simply said: “I think he’s as good as anybody else.”

Certainly better than anybody else Saturday. World Junior Champion James Stallworth of Fresno State earned the silver medal with a jump of 26-2 1/4, and Russell Adams of Norman, Okla., earned the bronze with a leap of 26- 3/4.

Even though the Festival’s track and field competition hasn’t been filled with world-class competitors, Russ Walker of Orange was excited about Saturday’s portion of the meet, especially since Powell was competing.

Walker, who owns an insurance agency in Santa Ana, said the highlight of the meet was having Beamon and Powell in the stadium together. He proudly displayed his day’s trophy, Beamon’s autograph--signed “Bob Beamon, 29-2 1/2”--written inside his savings account passbook.

“It’s neat to see them here together,” Walker said as he focused his camera on Powell, who was on the runway. “I remember (Powell) from his UCI days. . . . That’s kind of neat that he’s a local guy.”

And also an entertaining one.

Like Olympic triple jumper Willie Banks, Powell enjoys firing up the crowd to help him along. But if that doesn’t work, he has his own method of inspiration.

Between each attempt, Powell cranked up the volume on his headphones, bobbing his head to the beat. He was a disc jockey in college, he said, and he records specially mixed rap tunes to get him going.

“I’m partying out there,” he said.

Teasing the crowd, apparently, is another source of fun for him.

After his final jump, Powell walked over to a meet official standing at the display board. Powell whispered something in the official’s ear, and walked away. The official turned to the board, put up the numbers, and the crowd went wild.

29-3.

The crowd might have been fooled, but not meet announcer Scott Davis.

“A little wishful thinking by Mr. Powell,” Davis told the crowd, adding that the real mark was 26-10.

It doesn’t hurt to wish, of course, as Powell has been doing for some time. Last year, he was ranked No. 1 in the nation by Track & Field News, but his goal is to be the first to break Beamon’s mark, something Carl Lewis has been closing in on for a few years.

Powell is flying to Sestriere, Italy, for a meet Aug. 1. Sestriere is at 6,400 feet elevation--thin air makes for faster sprints and jumps--and meet organizers are offering a Ferrari Testarosa for anyone who breaks a world record.

On top of that, Powell says, his contract with his sponsor, Foot Locker, states that Powell will receive a $100,000 bonus for a world record.

While Lewis has said he doesn’t want to go to altitude to break Beamon’s record--it was set at Mexico City at the 1968 Olympics--Powell says he’ll take it whichever way he can get it.

“I’ll take the record in someone’s back yard,” he said.