TRIPLE JUMPER TIOMBE HURD ('95) SET AN AMERICAN RECORD IN WINNING THE U.S. OLYMPIC TRIALS IN JULY. Her jump of 47 feet, 5 inches surpassed the mark of 47 feet, 3 1/2 inches set in 1996, and put Hurd on the path to Athens.

After missing the 2000 Sydney Games by four inches, Hurd knew she was a long shot for a medal. She is ranked 24th in the world by the International Association of Athletics Federations. Competing on the historic ground of Athens, Hurd finished 13th in her qualifying group and tied for 22nd place overall in the XXVIII Olympic Games. Her best jump was 45 feet, 10 1/2 inches, and only the top 12 finishers advanced to the finals.

"I felt really good in the warm-ups, and they went well; but unfortunately when it was time to jump, my steps were off, and I was stutter-stepping to the board. ... I just couldn't jump well," says Hurd.

When Hurd finished first in the 2001 U.S. indoor and outdoor championships, she was a full-time assistant administrator at Hyatt Hotel in Washington, D.C., and part-time athlete with no coach. Training solo, Hurd finished second in the 2002 U.S. indoor championships and fourth in the outdoor championships. At the March 2003 indoor nationals, she tore her left hamstring, and the injury helped her decide to train full time. She enlisted English coach Aston Moore, who has helped improve her technique. Training solo was not the only detriment to Hurd's technique. She fouls often in competition because of an eye condition that few know exists. "I never told anyone, because I didn't want them to treat me different," says Hurd, who wears corrective contact lenses.

"Her success is even more outstanding because she's overcome that," says U.S. Olympic coach Craig Poole.

Hurd also places bright-colored tape on the side of the track as markers. When she fouled in her first two attempts at the U.S. Olympic Trials, she had the crowd on their feet; but her third jump set the record. Though her trip to Athens didn't go as well as she'd hoped, Hurd never once blamed her eye condition. The American champ is her own toughest critic: "I felt really great training in Athens, but when you get to the big day, you've got to make it happen and I didn't. I wish I could have had a better performance with my parents in the stands."

-- Michelle Hite ('88)