American Record: Jackie Joyner-Kersee, 7,291
2007 U.S. Champion: Hyleas Fountain, 6,090
2004 Olympic Trials Champion: Shelia Burrell, 6,194
Top 5 Seed Times
1.) Jacquelyn Johnson, 6,276
2.) Diana Pickler, 6,205
3.) Hyleas Fountain, 6,090
4.) Lela Nelson, 6,022
5.) Virginia Johnson, 6,002
Jacquelyn Johnson has cornered the market on the collegiate heptathlon since she enrolled at Arizona State University five years ago. The redshirt senior has won five national titles, six All-American awards and a U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Co-National Athlete of the Year. She’s been a favorite since she was a high schooler, where she won 14 state titles in Yuma, Ariz. Nothing has changed now, where she is expected to win the Olympic Trials title.
She should recognize the second and sixth-ranked heptathletes from her own conference meet. Sisters Diana and Julie Pickler of Washington State are two of the challengers to Johnson. Diana was the 2007 U.S. outdoor runner-up in the heptathlon, where she exceeded 6,000 points and was named to the U.S. team for the World Championships. She and Hyleas Fountain have the best shots to make the U.S. team for Beijing, a roster that would include athletes who have all competed in college within the past two years.
Fountain won that 2007 U.S. heptathlon title and finished the year ranked second in the nation. Her personal best of 6,502 might be three years old, but it would still rank her fifth in the world. Don’t be surprised if she pulls out the win.