SURPRISE! HAYES UNEXPECTEDLY WINS HURDLES RUNNERS' COLLISION CLEARS PATH TO GOLD.Byline: Paul Oberjuerge Staff Writer ATHENS, Greece - Joanna Hayes Joanna Dove Hayes (born December 23, 1976) is an American runner, who won the gold medal in the Women's 100m Hurdles at the 2004 Summer Olympics at Athens. Currently coaches Track and Field and Cross-Country Running at Brentwood School in Los Angeles, California. may not have been the favorite in the Olympic 100-meter hurdles final Tuesday, but she certainly didn't know it. ``I planned on winning,'' she said. ``I just knew it. I said to myself I wouldn't lose, I couldn't lose.'' Hayes, a UCLA UCLA University of California at Los Angeles UCLA University Center for Learning Assistance (Illinois State University) UCLA University of Carrollton, TX and Lower Addison, TX alumna, finished a nearly flawless run in 12.37 seconds, an Olympic record Olympic Records are the best performances in a specific event in that event's history in either the Summer Olympic Games or the Winter Olympic Games. As the Olympics occur only once every four years, many of these records do not correspond with world records, though they are . Olena Krasovska Olena Krasovska, née Ovcharova (Ukrainian: Олена Красовська of Ukraine took the silver in 12.45, and American Melissa Morrison the bronze in 12.56. Hayes' victory, only the second by an American in the event, was just one highlight in an eventful night of track and field at Athens Olympic Stadium The Olympic Stadium is the name usually given to the big centrepiece stadium of the Summer Olympic Games. Traditionally, the opening and closing ceremonies and the track & field competitions are held in the Olympic Stadium. . Another was Santa Clarita's Allyson Felix Allyson Felix (born November 18, 1985 in Los Angeles, California) is a track and field sprint athlete, competing internationally for the United States in the 200 meters. Felix, born and raised in southern California, is also a devout Christian and is the daughter of an ordained , an L.A. Baptist High of North Hills graduate. Felix ran like a veteran - and a gold-medal contender - while easily winning her women's 200-meter semifinal heat in 22.37 seconds. Hayes' toughest competition was expected to come from Perdita Felicien Perdita Felicien (born August 29, 1980 in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada) is a world-class hurdler in track and field athletic competition, most famous for her disappointing failure to jump over a single hurdle in the 2004 Athens Olympic games. of Canada, who was ranked No. 1 in the world. She came into the race as the favorite after 37-year-old Gail Devers Yolanda Gail Devers (born November 19, 1966 in Seattle, Washington, USA) is a three-time Olympic 100 m champion in athletics for the US Olympic Team. Devers grew up near National City, CA and graduated from Sweetwater High School in National City, CA. from UCLA failed to make it out of her opening heat because of a strained left calf. But Felicien crashed hard into the first hurdle while trying to make up for a slow start and fell into the lane to her right, tripping Irina Shevchenko Irina Shevchenko, née Korotya (born 2 September 1975 in Frunze, Kyrgyz SSR) is a Russian hurdler. Her personal best time is 12.67 seconds, achieved in July 2004 in Tula. She equalled this time in the 2004 Olympic semi final. of Russia. ``I reached for it too much,'' said Felicien, who attended the University of Illinois University of Illinois may refer to:
It was clear sailing from then on for Hayes, 27, who broke the Olympic mark of 12.38 seconds set by Bulgaria's Yordanko Donkova in 1988. However, over the next two hours after the race, an international panel discussed whether to accept Shevchenko's appeal that her path was obstructed. Shevchenko wanted another shot. She wanted the race run again. Finally, just after 1 a.m. in Athens, Hayes learned that her record was safe. The appeal was denied. ``What's life without a little controversy,`` said Hayes, who wore red, white and blue rubber bands in her braided braid·ed adj. 1. a. Produced by or as if by braiding. b. Having braids. 2. Decorated with braid. 3. hair. ``Things are the way they should be. ``I got out really well. I don't think anybody was going to beat me, anyway.'' It's not uncommon for hurdlers to hit either hurdles or each other during a race. Hayes and Morrison actually bumped arms in the 100 hurdles at the Olympic Trials, but both fought off the contact to finish in the top three and make the team. Hayes - who won the 1999 NCAA NCAA abbr. National Collegiate Athletic Association 100-meter hurdles title for UCLA - was in Lane 4 and Felicien in Lane 5. Had Hayes thought about what would have happened had Felicien fallen left instead of right? ``A million times,'' Hayes said. Hayes, who became the first U.S. woman since Benita Fitzgerald-Brown in 1984 to win gold in the 100-meter hurdles, is the daughter of Ted Hayes, Los Angeles advocate for the homeless - who was in Athens with most of the other members of his family to witness Joanna's triumph. For Felix, her time Tuesday wasn't far off her personal best of 22.11 seconds, set in Mexico City last year. ``I just ran the turn hard and took it easy down the straight,'' she said of her Tuesday sprint. ``I feel great. I didn't want to go too hard. That set things up for (tonight).'' She has no complaints about her preparation. ``Definitely, it feels like everything is coming together at the right time. I'm just really excited.'' Veronica Campbell, 22, of Jamaica, the gold-medal favorite, won the second semifinal heat in 22.13 seconds. Felix's U.S. teammate, Muna Lee, also reached the final. Perhaps the only unresolved issue in Felix's mind was how much rest she would get the night before today's final, the concluding event of the program. ``I'll probably get a good night's sleep,'' she said, ``but I'll probably be a little nervous, too.'' Daily News wire services contributed to this report. CAPTION(S): 3 photos Photo: (1 -- color) UCLA alumna Joanna Hayes reacts after winning the gold medal for the United States in the women's 100-meter hurdles during the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens on Tuesday. Anja Niedringhaus/Associated Press (2 -- color) USA's Kerri Walsh, left, and teammate Misty May celebrate after winning Olympic gold in the beach volleyball finals against Brazil in Athens on Tuesday. Adam Butler/Associated Press (3) Canada's Perdita Felicien, back right, is caught up in a hurdle after stumbling into Russia's Irina Shevchenko, center, during the 100-meter hurdles final at the Olympic Stadium in Athens on Tuesday. Canada's Angela White and Russia's Mariya Koroteyeva, left, clear the hurdle. Julie Jacobson/Associated Press |
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