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Hahn Increases Commodore Heptathlon Record 6/25/2004 Remains on Bubble For Olympic Trial Participation PROVO, Utah – Vanderbilt’s Josie Hahn upped her school record in the heptathlon above the 5,500-point plateau Thursday at Brigham Young University, but must wait to see if she will compete at the upcoming U.S. Track and Field Olympic Trials. Hahn, who was named the Commodore Female Athlete of the Year earlier this week, finished the Pre-Trials Invitational competition with 5,503 points, 11 more than her previous mark set while winning the Southeastern Conference championships in May. Despite the record – and a bit of good news from organizers of the Olympic Trials – Hahn’s status for the event depends on other heptathlon competitions in the coming week. The Olympic Trials start July 9 in Sacramento, Calif. Hahn, who finished third overall in Utah, ranks 24th nationally. She jumped Baylor’s Jordan Willman during the competition, but also was passed by event winner Marsha Baird. The runner-up in Utah, Brooke Meredith of California, topped Hahn by just two points. Hahn and her Vanderbilt coach, Lori Shepard, received good news early Thursday when U.S. Olympic Trials organizers announced that 24 competitors would compete in the heptathlon. In 2004, only 15 competed for the right to represent America at the Sydney Games. “I can’t tell you how proud I am of Josie. She’s enjoyed a wonderful season. Hopefully, she will get to enjoy one more extremely important meet,” Shepard said. If Hahn misses the trials, she will look back at the long jump as the chief reason. Entering competition Thursday well ahead of record pace, Hahn missed a chance to bolster her total by a subpar 17’6.75″ effort in the altitude-aided long jump. The effort was nearly a foot behind her best this year. The long jump also gave California’s Brooke Meredith renewed confidence in the two two events – the javelin and 800-meter run. Meredith topped Hahn in the javelin with a 142’10” toss, then edged the Vanderbilt standout in the 800 by a second. Hahn performed well in both events – 136’3″ in the javelin and a personal best 2:20.42 in the 800 – but the 54-point difference enabled Meredith to claim second place. Hahn, a three-time All-American, now holds Vanderbilt records in the heptathlon, outdoor high jump, javelin, indoor high jump and pentathlon. She will return for a senior campaign next year. |
