The University of Mississippi Athletics
Reese Jumps For Gold Friday From Beijing
8/20/2008 | Track and Field
BEIJING, China. Former Ole Miss All-American Brittney Reese continues her quest for an Olympic medal when she takes part in the long jump finals Friday in the Summer Olympics from Beijing's National Stadium.
Reese earned a spot in the finals after she won the qualifying round of the long jump Tuesday with a distance of 22-06.50. Reese, one of three Americans to advance into the finals, defeated her closest competition by three inches.
The long jump finals are scheduled to begin Friday morning at 6:20 a.m. (CT), and will air later that night on NBC and NBC HD beginning at 7:00 p.m. (CT).
The Gulfport, Miss., native is attempting to become the first track and field female in school history to win an Olympic medal. In fact, only one track and field athlete in school history has ever won an Olympic Medal. Former Ole Miss great Tony Dees accomplished the feat by claiming a silver medal in 110 meter hurdles in the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain.
Earlier this year, Reese became the first female in school history to win an individual NCAA title as she won the long jump at both the indoor and outdoor NCAA Championships.