Hahn Gets Off to Fast Start in SEC Heptathlon; Third After Strong Efforts in Hurdles, 200 5/16/03

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - Vanderbilt’s Josie Hahn, performing near her hometown, posted a pair of personal bests Thursday and is in third place overall entering the final day of heptathlon competition at the Southeastern Conference Championships.

Hahn opened the seven-event heptathlon with a 14.51 effort in the 100-meter hurdles, .35 seconds lower than her previous best. She concluded the exhaustive day with a second personal record, running the 200 meters in 26.21, .19 seconds better than her previous mark. Both earlier efforts were posted at the 2002 United States Junior Nationals where Hahn finished third.

After the first day, Hahn stands in third place with 3,178 points. She trails Hyleas Fountain of Georgia (3,550) and Antoinette Wilks of South Carolina (3,236). Hahn holds a 65-point margin over South Carolina’s Chelsea Hammond.

The SEC Outdoor Championships will continue through Sunday at the University of Tennessee campus. Eleven other Commodores are expected to join Hahn for the competition.
The final three events of the heptathlon - long jump, javelin and 800-meter run - are scheduled Friday afternoon on the University of Tennessee campus.

Hahn and the other heptathlon competitors battled difficult conditions Thursday. The first day of competition ended as midnight approached, due to a two-hour delay caused by heavy rains and strong winds.

Besides the personal bests in the hurdles and 200 meters, Hahn also cleared 5’7” in the high jump and tossed the shot put in the two other events staged Thursday. Though she has jumped two inches higher this season, Hahn’s shot put effort is her best of the year.

Hahn, a native of Clinton, Tenn., appears within reach of her previous best in the event. She scored 5,249 points at the 2002 Junior Nationals. A fourth place finisher in the heptathlon at the 2002 SEC Outdoor Championships, Hahn can eclipse the mark - and prehaps challenge Julie Walk’s 1999 school record of 5,399 points - with excellent performances in the long jump and javelin. She likely needs a long jump approach 18’0” and a javelin toss approaching 135’0” to challenge the mark.

Four other Commodores - seniors Cicely Campbell and Joy Parker, and juniors Mary Baldwin and Vensherrie Campbell - will join Hahn in competition Friday. Cicely Campbell and Parker will attempt to qualify for the 800-meter finals while Baldwin goes in the 400-meter hurdle trials. Vensherrie Campbell is scheduled to compete Friday morning in the hammer throw.

Here’s a list of other Commodores competing at the SEC Championships this weekend:

• Latisha Bryant - 400 meters, 4x400 relay
• Colleen Byrne - 1,500 meters
• Vanessa Lagios - 400 meters
• Amanda Mullins-Hall - 100-meter hurdles, 4x400 relay
• Paige Roberts - pole vault
• Erika Schneble - 5,000 meters
• Caitlin Shannon - 1,500 meters