JJK kicks off USATF Top 25 Moments

INDIANAPOLIS - Jackie Joyner-Kersee becoming the first woman in history to break the 7,000 point barrier in the heptathlon was honored by USA Track & Field on Wednesday as the 25^th greatest moment in U.S track and field in the last 25 years.

To help mark the 25th anniversary of USA Track & Field, fans joined USATF in selecting the Top 25 Moments in American Track & Field during the past quarter century. Fans voted for what they consider to be the top moments in the sports of track & field, long-distance running, and race walking by voting online at USATF's website, www.usatf.org.

The final list of Top 25 Moments, to be announced each week throughout 2004, were selected by a panel of the sport's experts in conjunction with fan voting. To be eligible for the Top 25 Moments list, the moments must have occurred between 1979-2004.

Known as the finest heptathlete in history, Joyner-Kersee set the world record in shattering the 7,000 point barrier at the 1986 Goodwill Games in Moscow with her total of 7,148 points. JJK proved her dominance in Moscow by bettering the second place finisher by an enormous 513-point margin. Joyner-Kersee's marks in Moscow were 12.85 seconds for the 100m hurdles; 1.88m/6-2 in the high jump; 14.76m/48-5.25 in the shot put; 23.00 seconds in the 200 meters; 7.01m/23-0 in the long jump; 49.86m/163-7 in the javelin and 2:10.02 in the 800m.

Joyner-Kersee owns the top six totals ever recorded in the women's heptathlon, with each performance surpassing 7,000 points.

Suggestions for USATF's Top 25 Moments were taken through February 22, 2004. Fans voted for their favorite moments beginning February 28 and ending on June 20. The Top 25 Moments will be announced in reverse order, one per week, leading up to the USATF Annual Meeting in December, where the top three moments will be revealed.

For more information on USATF' Top 25 Moments, visit www.usatf.org.