University of Tennessee Athletics
MADISON STRONGEST INGREDIENT IN ORANGE-FLAVORED USA INDOOR MEET
March 01, 2006 | Women's Track
March 1, 2006
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- The recent 2006 AT&T USA Indoor Track & Field Championships in Boston had a distinct Big Orange Flavor. Four former Lady Vols and a handful of other athletes who live and train in Knoxville were in action in Beantown in what is known as the world's oldest indoor track meet.
Tianna Madison, who won World, NCAA and SEC titles in the long jump as a UT sophomore before opting to turn pro in January 2006, was the highest-finishing former Lady Vol at the Reggie Lewis Track & Athletics Center over the weekend. A resident of Knoxville and still a pupil of Lady Vol sprints/hurdles/jumps coach Caryl Smith Gilbert, Madison charted a best leap of 21 feet, 7 1/2 inches to finish second. Knoxville resident Grace Upshaw was third at 21-3 1/2. Both are members of Team Nike.
Ex-UT harrier Sharon (Dickie) Thompson (1998-2003), who was just named to the 2006 U.S. World Cross Country Championships squad, came in sixth in the 3000-meter run. Representing Nike, the three-time Big Orange cross country/track All-American logged a time of 9:13.87.
Alisa Harvey, who competed at UT from 1984 to 1987, continued to display her amazing longevity. The nine-time All-American logged a readout of 2:09.37 in the prelims of the 800-meter run but did not make the finals. Hazel Clark, sister and pupil of Lady Vol Head Coach J.J. Clark, qualified for the 800m final with a 2:08.78 clocking, but the Nike rep did not run in the money race.
In the 60-meter dash, 2004 Olympic gold medalist Dee Dee Trotter tried to get a little speed work in as she prepares for the outdoor season and her signature 400 meters. The eight-time All-American (2002-2004) logged a time of 7.48 and took 15th in the short sprint.
The 1500 meters featured two athletes who went to college elsewhere but moved to Knoxville to train with coach Clark. Treniere Clement, last year's U.S. Outdoor 1500m champion, won the indoor title in 4:08.13. Training partner Mary Jayne Harrelson was fourth in 4:13.79. Both run for Nike.
