University of Houston Athletics
Collins and Burrell Earn Spots On U.S. Olympic Team
7/17/2000 12:00:00 AM | Women's Track and Field
Dawn Burrell, who is the younger sister of current UH head coach and Olympic Gold Medallist Leroy Burrell, finished second in the women's long jump and Michelle Collins held on for a third place finish in the 400-meter dash to earn their spots on the team.
Burrell's wind-aided jump of 22 feet, 10 1/2 inches was her personal-best, and she finished second behind Marion Jones, who won the event with a leap of 23 feet, 1/2 inch. She also had a legal jump of 22 feet, 10 inches on her fourth try. Burrell was the 1999 USA Outdoor champion and finished sixth at the 1999 World Outdoor championships.
"I had a good day overall," said Burrell. "Coming here, I was hoping to jump 23 feet and I was confident I could do it. I know I'm getting closer and closer and I'm going to jump in Oslo before the Games, and perhaps it will happen there."
Collins finished third in the 400 meters on Sunday in a time of 50.29 seconds. Her training partner, Latasha Colander-Richardson, won the race in a personal best time of 49.87 seconds, while Jearl Miles-Clark was second in 50.23 seconds, just 6/100 of a second ahead of Collins.
She also qualifies to compete on the 4x400-meter relay team at Sidney.
Collins, spent most of her career running in the 100 and 200 meter sprints, won the 200 meters at the 1992 NCAA Indoor Championships.
"Making the Olympic team means a lot to me," said Collins. "I have tried twice before and didn't make it, so I feel very blessed to have finally made it. The 400 is still a new race for me so I am still learning the event. I still haven't run the perfect 400, but I'm going to the Olympic Games where I hope to put it all together."
