Tiffany Townsend (August 2011)
Tiffany Townsend (Born Lake City, Florida on 14/6/89) is a sprinter hardly anybody would have heard of outside the United States in 2011 but like the young British 'Star' sprinter Jodie Williams, could be one who could break through in Olympic year, 2012..
In the Diamond League Grand Prix at Crystal Palace in August 2011, out of eight runners, she was sixth in the 200m in 22.92 with Jodie Williams seventh in 22.95.That in itself may not be something startling but the career of the 22 year old, so far, is impressive. She came fifth in the Final of that World Junior Championships 200m in Poland in 2008. Her time 23.64.
22 year old, Tiffany Townsend, ran 11.19 for the 100m in Austin Texas in June 2009 and this year (2011) in June, she ran 22.58 for 200m in Des Moines. Back in 2010 she won the 100m at the Michael Johnson Classic and the Drake Relays. In March this year she ran 7.23 indoors at College Station, Texas. Tiffany was educated at Killeen High School and is 5ft 6ins tall. She runs for Baylor Bears. Her cousin is Dannette Stone, a 4x100 Olympic relay gold medallist in 1988.
" I did not start running till 11th Grade, when I was about 15/16 years old. My parents were fine about my running.
It was something I wanted to do, kept me out of trouble and kept me busy doing something so, I started running.
I won an AAU title. After that I thought I could do well in track so I kept running.'
Looking back to those early days did she have any special memories of races
" My senior year in High School I won the Texas State Championships and broke the State records 100/200 in 11.21/22.84. Those are memorable races right there.'
' I have to say this past year running indoors and outdoors is memorable. I got third in the National Indoor 200. The times I ran I probably could have won in the previous years (3rd in NCAA Indoors Final in 22.90 at Gillian Track Stadium. In the National Senior outdoors she won her heat in 22.80 and was 3rd in the Semi-Final in 23.04).
" It was at school I realised I could get a scholarship when running fast. I then went to Baylor University in the States.
What stands out
" The NCAA third place in 22.58 this year as I was getting a PR off my last Collegiate race was good.'
She added "I am coached by Michael Ford'
Will she run for a long time
' I love running I would like to keep going in the future and I am doing a Major in Exercise Physiology and how the body works so, I am interested in that. '
Her 'Stars'
" For me Flo-Jo. Regarding some of the recent one's it would be Sanya Richards because I admire her and actually trained with her when I was in college"