Lolo Jones Hurdles
INDIANAPOLIS – Two of the world’s finest hurdlers, David Oliver and Lolo Jones, will lead Team USA this Saturday at the 2011 Five Nations Match in Glasgow, Scotland.
The Five Nations Match features one athlete in each event in a unique country vs. country format that showcases competitors from different nations battling against each other to earn points towards their teams overall match total. Last year, Great Britain & Northern Ireland won the event with 63 points, with Team USA finishing second with 60 points and Germany third with 51 points. The Commonwealth Select squad was fourth with 49 points and Sweden placed fifth with 30 points.
Oliver ruled the world in 2010
David Oliver turned in one of the most prolific seasons ever by a high hurdler in 2010, which culminated with him becoming the #3 performer all-time in his event, ending the season ranked #1 in the world by Track & Field News and winning the Jesse Owens Award as America’s finest male athlete.Oliver became the world’s best high hurdler in 2010 by winning nearly everything in sight and posting the five fastest times in the world (and 12 of the top 15 times globally) during the outdoor season, which included his pending American record 12.89 clocking from his win in Paris on July 16. Oliver’s performance was the fourth-fastest time ever, and made him the third-fastest 110m hurdler of all-time trailing only world record holder Dayron Robles of Cuba and former world record holder Liu Xiang of China. Oliver was unbeaten in 15 finals races during the outdoor season and won the inaugural IAAF Diamond League 110m hurdles title.
Oliver’s amazing season began indoors with his runner-up finish in the 60m hurdles at the USA Indoor Championships. He went on to post his personal best time and the fourth-fastest indoor clocking by an American that season of 7.44 when he won the bronze medal at the World Indoor Championships in Doha. Prior to the World Championships, Oliver won the 60m hurdles at the 2010 Five Nations match in 7.58.
Jones among the world’s best
Long recognized as one of the world’s finest hurdlers, Lolo Jones had one of her finest seasons in 2010 highlighted by winning the gold medal in the 60m hurdles at the World Indoor Championships in the American record time of 7.72 seconds. Her performance was the fastest time in the world that season. In addition, Jones won the USA Outdoor 100m hurdles title and picked up IAAF Diamond League victories in Monaco, New York, Oslo, Gateshead and Doha.
Jones, who finished second in the IAAF Diamond League competition in the 100m hurdles, ended the season ranked #3 in the world by Track & Field News.
Additional members of Team USA that will compete in Glasgow include:
Men
60m & 200m: Ryan Bailey will represent the U.S. in both events. Bailey had an amazing breakthrough season in 2010 in lowering his personal best in the100m to 9.88 seconds from his previous best of 10.05 in 2009, and his 200m career best to 20.10 down from his previous PR of 20.45 in 2009.
400m: The 2008 NACAC 400m champion, LeJerald Betters had his finest season in 2010, which included a runner-up finish at the USA Outdoor Championships, a personal best of 44.70 in Lausanne and the first Track & Field News world ranking of his career (#5).
800m: The sixth-place finisher at the 2008 Olympic Trials and a 2007 World Outdoor Championships team member, Duane Solomon finished the 2010 campaign ranked #4 in the U.S. by T&FN.
3,000m: Dan Huling enjoyed the finest season of his young career in 2010 highlighted by winning the 3,000m steepleshase at the 2010 USA Outdoor Championships and posting his personal best time with his fourth-place finish in Lausanne in 8:13.29, which was the fastest time by an American that season.
Triple Jump: A two-time Olympian and three-time World Outdoor Championships competitor, Kenta Bell won the second USA Outdoor title of his career in 2010 (1st win – 2003). He ended the season ranked #3 in the U.S. by T&FN.
High Jump: The reigning USA Indoor champion (2.34m/7-8), Jesse Williams was a 2008 Olympian and two-time World Outdoor Champs competitor. His 2010 year end ranking of #2 in the world by T&FN is the highest of his career, and evidence that he has arrived as one of the world’s best high jumpers.
Women
60m: The 2009 NCAA Outdoor 100m champion, Alexandria Anderson was a Team USA relay pool member at the 2009 World Outdoor Championships, who placed fifth at last year’s USA Outdoor Championships in Des Moines, Iowa.
200m: Consuella Moore captured her first USA Outdoor title with her win in the Visa Women’s 200m in a personal best 22.40 seconds at the 2010 USA Outdoor Championships. Moore made the 4x100m relay pool for Team USA at the Olympic Games after her fifth-place finish in the 200m at the 2004 Olympic Trials.
400m: The bronze medalist at the 2008 World Indoor Championships in Valencia, Spain (51.41 PR), Shareese Woods also earned a gold medal at the 2006 NACAC Championships as a member of Team USA’s winning 4x100m relay squad.
800m: The up-and-coming Molly Beckwith, who competed for Indiana University last year, was the runner-up in the 800m at the 2010 NCAA Outdoor Championships. She finished last season ranked #9 in the U.S. by T&FN.
1,500m: As a senior at the University of West Virginia, Karly Hamric earned All-America honors at the 2010 NCAA Outdoor Championships after finishing sixth in the 1,500m final in 4:17.78.
3.000m: Representing Team USA in this event will be Allison Kieffer, who recently finished third at the 2010 Emerald Nuts Midnight Run 4 Mile in New York in 21:37. Kiefer was a high school All-American before later competing for Wake Forest University.
Pole Vault: A 2008 and 20010 All-American at the University of Wisconsin, Jenny Soceka set the Big Ten Conference outdoor record in the pole vault last year at the Wisconsin Track Club Summer Track Series meet with her clearance of 4.36m/14-3.5.
Long Jump: The 12th place finisher at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, Funmi Jimoh was also a member of the 2009 World Outdoor Championships team. She finished the 2010 campaign ranked #4 in the U.S. by T&FN.
Men’s Coach: John Chaplin
Women’s Coach: Rose Monday
Trainer: Ralph Reiff
