University of Tennessee Athletics
FORMER LADY VOL MADISON SECOND AT IAAF WORLD INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS
March 17, 2006 | Women's Track
March 17, 2006
MOSCOW, Russia -- Former University of Tennessee long jump standout Tianna Madison came through with a personal-best leap on her final attempt of the competition to grab a silver medal for the United States at the recent IAAF World Indoor Championships at Olimpiyskiy Arena.
Madison, the 2005 IAAF Outdoor World Champ and the NCAA and SEC Indoor and Outdoor victor as a Lady Vol, grabbed silver in her first international competition as a post-collegiate athlete. Jumping professionally since January, Madison sped down the runway on her final attempt in Moscow and uncorked a career-topping measurement of 22 feet, 3 3/4 inches that moved her into second position and erased what would have been a fifth-place finish. Russia.s Tatyana Kotova earned the gold with a world-leading mark of 22-11 3/4.
"It's been a frustrating week and a frustrating season," Madison said. "I did jump my personal best, so I really can't ask for more than that. I was starting off two different marks and the original mark was what got me the jump that I needed."
Madison, who would have been competing as a junior at UT this season had she not opted to turn pro, continues to live in Knoxville and trains with Lady Vol assistant coach Caryl Smith Gilbert. Madison is also enrolled in school and working toward her degree in social work.
Another Knoxville resident, who is trained by UT Head Coach J.J. Clark, competed in the 1500 meters at the World Championships. Treniere Clement, the 2006 USA Indoor champion, came home with a seventh-place finish in a time of 4:11.21.
"I didn't have a good start at all," Clement said. "There was a lot of pushing, and it was hard for me to get where I needed to be. It was my first final and I learned a lot."
