Jimoh ’07 makes Team USA

FROM RICE ATHLETICS

Former Rice All-American track and field athlete Funmi Jimoh ’07 will represent Team USA once again, after placing third at the USA National Outdoor Track and Field Championships in the women’s long jump. Jimoh will now compete at the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) World Championships Aug. 15-23 in Berlin. She competed for Team USA last summer at the Beijing Olympics.

	Former Rice All-American track and field athlete Funmi Jimoh ’07 will represent Team USA at the International Association of Athletics Federations World Championships.

“She really competed tough having some adversity with an injury occurring on her jumps,” said Jim Bevan, her personal coach and Rice’s head women’s track and field coach. “Funmi is an amazing competitor.”

Jimoh posted a best mark of 22 feet, 2.5 inches (6.77m), which was also tied by Grace Upshaw. But Jimoh had a better second-highest mark of 22-0.6 (6.72m), which she needed on her last attempt. Upshaw’s second-highest mark was 21-11.8 (6.70m).

Jimoh came into the competition as one of the favorites.

“I felt good coming in, but I did not want to get to comfortable heading into competition as there are a lot of talented jumpers,” Jimoh said. “I did okay on my first attempt, but I hit a big one on my second one (22-2.5). It came down to my last jump, and I made it.”

Her international experience in the last year made a difference on her final attempt.

“Last year I would let my nerves get a hold of me, but I was able to get them intact (this time), and my experience pulled me through,” she said.

The IAAF World Championships will be held in Berlin’s Olympic Stadium, which will host its first major international track and field event since the 1936 Olympic Games.