Three of the fastest women in the 100m hurdles event sat down with media Wednesday afternoon to talk about how they are preparing for their race here in Track Town, as the start of the 2012 Olympic Trials is just days away.
All boasting blistering fast times of 12.5 seconds and under, these women lit up the room with their sparkling personalities as they took questions from Trials representatives and members of the media. They spoke on how they have gotten ready for their event, relationships with other competitors and injury trouble in past seasons, but they all came back to one thing: their yearning to prove themselves and make the 2012 Olympic team.
“Nothing has really changed up. It’s been more me, my mentality and my drive,” Wells said. “I’m much more hungry than in years past.”
Wells — 2011 USA indoor and outdoor hurdles champion — said her hunger stems from a deep desire to compete at the Olympics and do well at the highest level. She is eager to prove herself after heartbreaking injury at the 2008 Trials that left her unable to finish the finals at Hayward four years ago.
“I put 2008 in the past. Stuff happens to everybody; I’ve had a little bit of success here and I’m looking for a little bit more,” Wells said. “I’m just gonna have fun and not make it more than what it is.”
Veteran hurdler Joanna Hayes is looking to make a comeback in this years trials as well. Hayes, the 2004 Olympic gold medalist and record holder with a time of 12.37 seconds, said she had all but signed the papers to finalize her retirement before deciding to come back to the trials. She explained her love of the sport and the other athletes she trains with made her decide she wanted to return for another round.
“I was kind of thinking about it here and there and honestly I missed my training partners,” Hayes said. “We have so much fun out there. We really enjoy ourselves and just hang out.”
Hayes was also injured in the 2008 trials and told how she is determined to go out on top despite her  misfortune four years ago.
“It left a bad taste in my mouth that year,” she said. When I’m done I want to be done and say goodbye to track and field competitively in a positive manner and so this year I just wanted to come and have a really good time, enjoy every moment of this incredible sport, and that’s what I’m doing.”
Virginia “Ginnie” Crawford sang almost the same tune as her two esteemed competitors. She said her battle with small injuries in the past few years has shown her a lot about herself and is thankful she is healthy and ready to compete this year. Crawford competed in the 2008 Trials with a minor hamstring injury and placed 6th with a time of 12.74 seconds.
“My approach hasn’t really changed. I still work hard and I still try and go into every race being confident,” she said. “Sometimes you have things in the back of you’re head, or things that have happened to me in the last few years like dealing with little injuries that sometimes make you second guess yourself, but this year I was fortunate enough to be healthy the entire year and be able to work hard and be better prepared for this Olympic trials.”