March 10, 2005

Hahn Goes for All-American Honors This Weekend

3/10/2005

Will Compete in NCAA High Jump, Pentathlon

Fayetteville, Ark. – Vanderbilt senior Josie Hahn, a three-time All-American in track and field, will attempt to add to her accolades this weekend when she competes in the high jump and pentathlon at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships.

Hahn is scheduled to compete in the high jump Friday, and return for the five-event pentathlon on Saturday.
A resident of Clinton, Tenn., Hahn is coming off two second place finishes at the recent Southeastern Conference Track and Field Championships two weeks ago also staged at the University of Arkansas’ Tyson Center. Hahn narrowly missed winning the SEC pentathlon with a 4,046-point effort, then returned to claim second in the high jump with a 5’10” clearance.

Hahn, the Commodores’ lone NCAA participant, will attempt to join former Vanderbilt standout Ryan Tolbert as the only Commodores to score points at the NCAA Indoor Championships in consecutive years. In 2004, Hahn finished sixth in the pentathlon, setting a personal and team record of 4,064 points.

Hahn is considered a longshot to finish among the top eight high jumpers. Entering the NCAAs, 13 jumpers have cleared a better mark than Hahn’s 2005 indoor best of 5’10.25″. The 21-women field includes six participants with indoor bests of 6’0″ or higher.

Hahn has a history of performing well at the Arkansas facility. In 2004, she cleared 6’0″ for the first time in her career at the Tyson Center. She has gone 5’10” or higher on four occasions at the facility.

Meet experts suggest Hahn’s best chance for All-American recognition will come in the pentathlon. Hahn enters the meet as the top returnee from one year ago when impressive Georgia senior Hyleas Fountain set a meet record with 4,412 points.

At the NCAA meet one year ago, Hahn and Ashley Selig of Nebraska finished sixth and seventh, respectively. This year, Selig enters the meet as the likely favorite, having pushed her personal best to 4,269 points. Only one other competitor, Amy Menlove of Brigham Young, has surpassed the 4,100-point barrier this year.

For Hahn to challenge Selig for a national title, she needs to improve in the 60-meter hurdles, shot put and long jump. A standout in the high jump and 800-meter run that are also included in the pentathlon, Hahn’s hopes likely hinge on her ability to approach personal bests in the hurdles, shot and horizontal jump.