Please share my joy and pride. West Philly girl, Nicole Leach, finished third in the 400, hurdles in a time of 54.49. I think her time also makes her, unofficially, 3rd in the World
6/24/07 Leach and Johnson Qualify for World Championship Team Former Bruin and NCAA Champion Sheena Johnson and current NCAA Champion Nicole Leach earned a spot on Team USA for the World Championships in Osaka on the final day of the USATF Senior National Championships in Indianapolis, IN. In all, UCLA will have six senior women at the World Championships and two incoming freshmen on the PanAm Junior team. (More) The Osaka contest will be Leach's first roster spot for a "senior" meet. (She turns 21 on July 18.) Nicole's early comments about winning the trip to Osaka include, "It hasn't hit me yet," and "What it means is more hard work. Leach has a mom who works at PENN and a dad at TEMPLE and a permanent address in West Philly. She was coached by LENNY JORDAN, formerly of West Catholic H.S. at 45th and Chestnut. Nicole has run from West Philly to West Coast and is trying for World Champion and a future that includes Olympic competition. Nicole's victory is a happy reminder of the World Campion fencing victories of Graham Wicas, another young person raised in West Philly. I see these Victory's as no accident. Cream floats in the presence of convenience and opportunity offered in our neighborhood parceled, big city. Here are links to Nicole's UCLA bio (only current through 2006) and to a video taken seconds after she won the trip to Osaka. It amazes me, that a young woman, sweaty, exhausted and probably full of adrenaline can face cameras with courtesy, poise and grace. Track keeps her fit, and her parents and coaches have molded a young woman who is very well begun. I hope each of us finds ways to provide opportunities and support for our younger citizens. Nicole Leach Bio with photo & links: http://uclabruins.cstv.com/sports/w-track/mtt/leach_nicole00.html Here is the text: Summer 2006 - Earned a gold medal on the USA 4x400m relay at the Junior World Championships ... Also earned a silver medal in the 400m hurdles at Worlds ... Won her third consecutive USATF Junior 400m hurdles title at the Junior National Championships. 2006 - Earned All-American honors with her fourth-place finish in the intermediate hurdles at the NCAA Championships (55.93) ... West Region (56.54) and Pac-10 (57.27) champion ... Also finished second in the 400m at Pac-10's (52.61)... Against USC, won the 400m (52.27) and 400mH (57.89) ... Won the Long Beach Invite 400m hurdles in 56.89 ... Finished third in the 400m (53.25) at the RJ/JJK Invite ... Placed second in the 200m (24.04) at the UCLA Invite ... Lifetime-best of 55.35 ranks fifth all-time at UCLA ... Athletic Director's Honor Roll. High School - 2005 Track & Field News All-American ... Member of the 2004 USA Junior Team and 2005 PanAm Junior Team (earning gold on 4x400m relay/placed sixth in 400mH) ... Four-time All-America ... Two-time USA Junior 400m hurdles Champion (ran a PR of 57.25 in 2005) ... Seven-time Catholic League ... 10-time indoor state champion ... Indoor junior class record holder in the 400m ... Indoor state 400m record holder ... Won the 400m at the NSIC in 2005 in a time of 53.04, moving her to No. 3 all-time on the indoor high school list ... Set Catholic League Meet records in the 100m (12.05), 200m (24.37), 400m (54.13) and 400mH (59.85) ... Penn Relay record holder in the 400mH ... Two-time Penn Relays MVP ... High school team were two-time Indoor State Champions MVP ... Member of the outdoor sprint medley relay team that set the national record ... Two-time Junior Olympic 400m champion ... Top prep times of 52.19 (indoor 400m), 57.25 (400mH, No. 3 on 2005 U.S. HS List) and 23.93 (200m) ... In 2005, West Philadelphia Catholic's 4x400m relay time of 3:41.96 (indoor) was No. 4 on the U.S. prep chart. Personal - Born July 18, 1987 in West Philadelphia, PA ... Daughter of H. Allen Leach and B. Diane Scipro ... Has one brother, Corey ... Pre-Business/Economics major. All-American 2006 - 400m Hurdles West Region Champion 2006 - 400m Hurdles Pac-10 Champion 2006 - 400m Hurdles Leach's Best Times 400mH - 55.35 400m - 52.27 200m - 23.93 Nicole Leach Video Description: Video URLClick here to view this video (http://www.flocasts.com/flotrack/speakers.php?sid=356&vid=4262)
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