Taylor Places Third at USATF Nationals, Eyes Worlds

Although Harvard track co-captain Brenda Taylor ’00 has been a college graduate for just three weeks, she has already fulfilled a lifelong ambition.

Fresh off of an NCAA title in the 400-meter intermediate hurdles on June 2, Taylor placed third at the U.S. Track and Field National Championships at Eugene, Ore. last Saturday. Her 55.99-second finish puts her in position to make the U.S. National Team for the World Championships in Edmonton, provided that she can meet the world qualifying standard of 55.67 seconds before July 23.

“It’s been an amazing four years, representing Harvard nationally,” Taylor said following the meet. “Now I can represent them internationally. That is something I really cherish.”

If Taylor makes the national team, she will be joined by three-time defending American champion Sandra Glover and Olympic bronze medallist Tonja Buford-Bailey, who finished first and second, respectively, in front of Taylor. Glover and Buford-Bailey are both veteran runners over 30 years of age.

Michelle Johnson, a 27-year old 1999 Pan American bronze medallist, placed fourth behind Taylor. If Taylor fails to reach the qualifying standard, Johnson—whose personal best is well beyond the qualifying standard—will take her spot. Taylor said that she would run several meets in Europe in order to beat the standard.

“My goal was to be competitive and make the team,” Taylor said. “I still have to work to make the standard. But I think I really can do that. I have the confidence now.”

The third-place finish at U.S. Nationals continued a whirlwind month of landmark events for Taylor. Immediately after graduation, she went to Salt Lake City to claim her Honda Award for the nation’s most outstanding female athlete in track and field. The award made her eligible to win the Broderick Cup, given to the female athlete of the year. Jackie Stiles, the Southwest Missouri State basketball superstar, ultimately won the honor.

Taylor earned her American bronze in typical dramatic fashion, passing Johnson off the final hurdle to secure the national team berth. She won her Penn Relays and NCAA crowns in similar fashion against Texas’ Angel Patterson.

Johnson, who finished in 56.21 seconds on Saturday, was a considerably more reputable opponent than Patterson. Taylor had not come close to beating Johnson in their two most recent meetings at the national level.

In Friday’s semifinal heat, Johnson crossed the line at 55.87 seconds, while Taylor finished in 56.60 seconds. When Taylor placed seventh in her 2000 Olympic Trial semifinal heat, Johnson took second, over two seconds ahead of Taylor.

But Taylor had improved considerably over the past year, making significant gains in both health and confidence. After struggling with a hamstring injury during her junior year at Harvard, Taylor’s performances took off this past season. Her personal records progressed from 56.64 seconds at the Olympic Trials, to 56.11 seconds at Penn Relays in late April, to her current personal best of 55.88 seconds at the NCAA Championships.

Taylor was not the only recent Harvard graduate to place beyond expectation on Saturday. Men’s track co-captain Chris Clever ’00, who placed ninth at NCAAs on May 30, rebounded to fourth place in the men’s javelin with a peak throw of 72.47 meters and beat 2001 NCAA champion John Steigeler of Oregon in the process.

Clever reached his top distance on his third throw of the preliminaries to lead his flight. He was in third place going into the finals, but American record-holder Tom Pukstys—now in the twilight of his career—reached 74.49 meters on his second throw to bump him out of the top three spots. Clever failed to reach the 70-meter mark in any of his last three throws.

Breaux Greer blew away the competition with a meet record throw of 85.23 meters. Had Clever actually managed to place third, he would have been well back of the world qualifying standard of 82.50 meters. His personal best remains his Heptagonal meet record throw of 74.06 meters.

The IAAF Outdoor World Championships will be held from Aug. 3 to Aug. 10 in Edmonton, where Taylor will look to augment Harvard track’s prominence at the international level.