Aug. 11, 2012
Photo Gallery
Offical Results - Men's 5K
Official Results - Women's High Jump
LONDON - University of Arizona Wildcat men’s and women’s track and field programs were represented very well on Saturday at Olympic Stadium in London. Student-athlete Brigetta Barrett competed in the final of the women’s high jump. Volunteer assistant coach Bernard Lagat ran in the final of the men’s 5,000-meter race.
Barrett, a senior-to-be, won the silver medal in the high jump competition with a personal-best clearance of 6-8 (2.03m). That mark is the best jump ever by a collegiate female in the high jump. The previous mark was also held by Barrett, when she cleared 6-7 (2.01m) at the U.S. Olympic Trials on July 1st. Since she did not post the mark during the collegiate season, it does not count as the collegiate record. She is the first Arizona track and field athlete to earn a medal in the Olympics since Michael Bates and Sandra Farmer-Patrick in 1992. Barrett is the only Wildcat to ever medal in the women’s high jump.
“I’m definitely thankful I have the medal, but it is really what comes with the medal that means a lot,” Barrett said. “I know that God has brought me so far and I know where I started, so to be able to stand here and look back on the journey, that is what it really means for me. My mom is in the stands smiling and healthy, so it’s great.”
Fellow American Chaunte Lowe, a friend and mentor to Barrett took sixth place in the competition with a clearance of 6-5.5 (1.97m). Lowe had very kind words after the competition regarding the outcome.
“My performance was not great, but I am really proud of Brigetta,” Lowe said. “She is a really great talent and I am glad that she was able to stay poised on this type of a stage.”
Lagat took fourth place in the men’s 5,000-meter race, missing a medal by .63 seconds. He tripped and lost his balance around the last turn, taking away most of his momentum. He still managed to finish strong, clocking a time of 13:42.99.
“I was very confident,” Lagat said. “I was just trying to go as I hard as I could. It would have been better to have been on the podium. The fourth spot is tough but I have been the most blessed person in my career.”
On Sunday, former Wildcat Abdi Abdirahman will compete in the marathon, starting at 3 a.m. MST. Additionally, former Wildcat Andre Iguodala and his U.S. teammates will compete for the gold medal in men’s basketball against Spain. That match will begin at 7 a.m. MST.
