Two student-athletes from the Arizona track and field program qualified for the Olympic Games on Saturday, as junior Brigetta Barrett took second place in the women's high jump at the U.S. trials while junior Julie Labonté won the shot put at the Canadian trials.
Barrett posted a personal-best clearance of 6-7 (2.01m) in Eugene, Ore., good for second place in the meet and a spot on Team USA. Barrett’s clearance was a meet record and a school record and made her the lone collegian to ever clear higher than 6-6. The U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches’ Association (USTFCCCA) declared that the mark is not the collegiate record because it did not take place during the collegiate season.
Previously, the school record was owned by Tanya Hughes and was set on May 22, 1992 in Eugene, Ore. She posted a mark of 6-5.5 (1.97m).
"Honestly, the goal from the beginning was to finish in the top three," Barrett said. "After that, I wanted to put on a show. All through the year, I didn’t set a personal best but I was really consistent, and that was a big thing for me. So coming here and doing what I did, it’s kind of surreal. I’m just happy.
"I've been obsessed with putting my name in the collegiate record book," Barrett added. "Since I’ve entered college, I want every record there is. This year, it was always frustrating (to not set a personal best), having a good meet but still ending up in tears because I knew I could jump higher, and today ... thank God."
Labonté punched her ticket to London at the Canadian trials in Calgary, Alberta, with a mark of 57-5.5 (17.51m). Labonté will join volunteer assistant coach Jill Camarena-Williams in London for the women’s shot put competition. Labonté also won the women’s discus throw Friday with a mark of 177-3 (54.02m). However, she failed to meet the Olympic 'A' standard of 62.00m, so she did not qualify for the Olympics in that event.
