Posted: July 29, 2004

Athletics: Jennings’ third World XC title named 21st top moment in track & field of last 25 years

INDIANAPOLIS – Lynn Jennings winning her third consecutive world cross country women’s championship in 1992 was honored by USA Track & Field on Wednesday as the 21st greatest moment in U.S track and field in the last 25 years.

To help mark the 25th anniversary of USA Track & Field, fans joined USATF in selecting the Top 25 Moments in American Track & Field during the past quarter century. Fans voted for what they consider to be the top moments in the sports of track & field, long-distance running, and race walking by voting online at USATF's website, www.usatf.org.

The 1992 Olympic bronze medalist in the 10,000 meters, Jennings was a three-time Olympian, a 10-time U.S. Outdoor track champion and she holds more USA cross country championships than anyone in history with nine.

With all her many accomplishments, Jennings may be best known for winning three consecutive women’s world cross country titles (1990-’92). Shortly after setting the world indoor 5,000m record, Jennings won her first world cross country title with a commanding victory in Aix-les-Bains, France. Jennings retained her title at Antwerp, Belgium in 1991 defeating two of the biggest names in the world in long distance running, Ethiopia’s Derartu Tulu and Britain’s Liz McColgan.

Jennings completed her world championship trifecta just 70 miles from her house at snow covered and muddy Franklin Park in Boston, where she won the 1992 title by overtaking Ireland’s Catherina McKiernan in the last 80 meters to win the title. “I never thought it would come so easily,” said Jennings. “I just knew it was my race to win.”

The final list of Top 25 Moments, to be announced each week throughout 2004, were selected by a panel of the sport’s experts in conjunction with fan voting. To be eligible for the Top 25 Moments list, the moments must have occurred between 1979-2004.

Suggestions for USATF’s Top 25 Moments were taken through February 22, 2004. Fans voted for their favorite moments beginning February 28 and ending on June 20. The Top 25 Moments will be announced in reverse order, one per week, leading up to the USATF Annual Meeting in December, where the top three moments will be revealed.

For more information on USATF’ Top 25 Moments, visit www.usatf.org.

USATF Top 25 Moments
25. Jackie Joyner-Kersee breaks 7,000-point barrier in the heptathlon.
24. Khalid Khannouchi sets men’s world marathon record in 2002.
23. Alan Webb sets U.S. boys’ high school mile record.
22. Kevin Young breaks Edwin Moses’ world record.
21. Jennings wins third World Cross Country title