Brenda Taylor(born February 9, 1979)[1]is an Americantrack and fieldathlete who specialises in the400 meter hurdles.She reached the final of the event at the2004 Summer Olympics.She also competed at the2001 World Championships in Athleticsand won a medal at the2003 IAAF World Indoor Championshipsin the4×400-meter relay.
| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Women'sathletics | ||
Representingthe United States
| ||
| World Indoor Championships | ||
 |
2003 Birmingham | 4 × 400 m relay |
Taylor is aHarvard Universitymedical graduate and won the hurdles at the 2001NCAAChampionships representing theHarvard Crimsontrack team.[2]
Career
editTaylor was born inSt. Louis, Missouriand grew up inBoone, North Carolina.She graduated from Watauga High School in 1997, and then competed collegiately for theHarvard Crimson,studyingpsychologyandbiologyatHarvard University.She finished seventh in the 400 m hurdles at theNCAA Women's Outdoor Track and Field Championshipin 2000. Taylor's greatest college achievements came in her final year at Harvard when she ran a personal best of 55.88 seconds to win the NCAA final. She improved her best to 55.46 at a meeting inZagreband then went on to reach to podium at the 2001USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships,winning thebronze medal.As a result of these achievements, Taylor received the 2000–01Honda Sports Awardas the top women's collegiate track athlete.[3][4][5]
Taylor's performance at the national championships gained her selection into the2001 World Championships in Athletics.Taylor finished sixth place in her semi-final. The following year, she was again third place in the 400 m hurdles at the national championships. Taylor began the 2003 season with a fourth-place performance in the400 metresat theUSA Indoor Track and Field Championships.This earned her a place on the4 × 400-meter relayteam at the2003 IAAF World Indoor Championships,where an American team ofMonique Hennagan,Meghan Addy,Taylor andMary Dannertook the bronze medal.[6]
In the outdoor season, Taylor came first at theMt. SAC Relaysand again finished third at the Outdoor U.S. Championships. However, she encountered the more illicit side of track and field at the championships as she was offered thebanned substancemodafinil.She claimed that she was "the only person that didn't take it".[7]One of her competitors,Sandra Glover,was among those later banned for taking the drug at the championships.[8]Taylor was chosen to compete at the2003 Pan American Gamesand she finished fourth behindAndrea Blackettin the400 m hurdles final.Taylor attended track and field meetings in Europe, coming third in Zagreb and taking fourth at theWeltklasse Zurichin a personal record time of 54.92 seconds.[3]She qualified for the2003 IAAF World Athletics Finaland finished in fifth place, running 54.93 seconds.[9]
Taylor reached the pinnacle of her athletic career in 2004, beginning with a win at the Mt. SAC Relays in a meet record time,[10]and a personal best beating run of 54.36 seconds for second atGolden Spike Ostrava.At the 2004United States Olympic Trialsshe improved even further, finishing as runner-up toSheena Johnsonwith a time of 53.36 seconds.[3]Gaining her first ever berth on the Olympic team, Taylor set her sights on the2004 Athens Olympics.Taylor reached theOlympic hurdles finaland took seventh place with a run of 54.97 seconds.[11]She closed the season with a bronze medal at the2004 IAAF World Athletics Final.Her new best time of 53.36 ranked her as the fifth fastest 400 m hurdler of2004.
Taylor has a twin sister, Lindsay Taylor, who competes in thepole vault.[12]Taylor abruptly stopped competing in professional athletics after 2004.[9]
Personal bests
editSource[1]
| Event | Time (sec) | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 400 metres hurdles | 53.36 | Sacramento, California,United States | July 11, 2004 |
| 400 metres | 52.56 | San Diego, California,United States | March 22, 2003 |
| 100 metres hurdles | 13.19 | San Diego, California,United States | June 19, 2004 |
- All information taken from IAAF profile.
Competition record
edit| Year | Competition | Venue | Position | Event | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | World Championships | Edmonton,Canada | 14th (semis) | 400 m hurdles | 56.52 |
| 2002 | NACAC U-25 Championships | San Antonio, Texas,United States | 2nd | 400 m hurdles | 57.65 |
| 2003 | World Indoor Championships | Birmingham,United Kingdom | 3rd | 4 × 400 m relay | 3:31.69 |
| Pan American Games | Santo Domingo,Dominican Republic | 4th | 400 m hurdles | 55.27 | |
| World Athletics Final | Monte Carlo,Monaco | 5th | 400 m hurdles | 54.93 | |
| 2004 | Olympic Games | Athens,Greece | 7th | 400 m hurdles | 54.97 |
| World Athletics Final | Monte Carlo,Monaco | 3rd | 400 m hurdles | 55.00 |
References
edit- ^ab"Brenda TAYLOR | Profile".www.worldathletics.org.Retrieved2020-07-15.
- ^Behr, Steve (2004-10-29).Taylor made: Olympic hurdler shares thoughts about Games.Watauga Democrat.Retrieved on 2010-07-01.
- ^abcBrenda Taylor Biography.USATF.Retrieved on 2010-06-30.
- ^"Brenda Taylor runs away with All-America".Harvard Gazette.2001-06-07.Retrieved2020-03-26.
- ^"Track & Field".CWSA.Retrieved2020-03-26.
- ^4x400 Metres Relay - W FinalArchivedOctober 25, 2012, at theWayback Machine.IAAF.Retrieved on 2010-06-30.
- ^Hurdler offered stimulant at U.S. meet.Associated Press(2004-08-12). Retrieved on 2010-06-30.
- ^US officials admit drug tests.BBC Sport(2003-12-31). Retrieved on 2010-06-30.
- ^abTaylor Brenda Biography.IAAF.Retrieved on 2010-06-30.
- ^Meet Records.Mt. SAC Relays.Retrieved on 2010-06-30.
- ^400 Metres Hurdles - W FinalArchivedJuly 4, 2008, at theWayback Machine.IAAF.Retrieved on 2010-06-30.
- ^Toomey records historic 800-1500m double in USATF Indoors - Final Day.IAAF(2004-03-01). Retrieved on 2010-06-30.
