American Record: Tiombe Hurd, 47-5
2007 U.S. Champion: Shani Marks, 46-2.5
2004 Olympic Trials Champion: Tiombe Hurd, 47-5
Top 5 Seed Times
1.) Shani Marks, 46-11
2.) Erica McLain, 46-7
3.) Shakeema Welsch, 46-5
4.) Amanda Thieschafer, 45-4.5
5.) Sheena Gordon, 45-1.75
Tiombe Hurd claimed the American record with her jump at the 2004 Olympic Trials, but ever since then it’s been Marks’ event to win. Marks won the 2005 and 2007 U.S. indoor championships, and added U.S. outdoor wins in 2006 and 2007. She set her personal best of 46-11 on June 13 at Chula Vista, Calif.
Shakeema Welsch has come a long way since she walked on to the Penn State track team as a junior, but she’s still two inches away from the Olympic qualifying standard of 46-7.25. It’s a similar situation to 2004, where Welsch finished second in Sacramento only to fail to meet the standard.
Hurd, meanwhile, is a four-time U.S. indoor champion and two-time outdoor title-winner, but her seeding mark of 43-6.25 is nearly four feet from her American record.
A familiar face in Eugene might be Stanford’s Erica McLain, who is the only other jumper to have met the qualifying standard for the Olympics.
Seventh-ranked Simidele Adeagbo jumped for the University of Kentucky before competing for Eugene’s Team XO track club. She holds a seeding mark of 44-9.75.