Posted: August 13, 2004

Athletics: Flo-Jo's 200m world record named USATF 19th top moment

National Track & Field Hall of Famer Florence Griffith Joyner (Flo-Jo) setting the women's 200m world record in 1988 was honored by USA Track & Field on Friday as the 19th 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.

After shocking the world with her electrifying women's 100m world record of 10.49 seconds at the 1988 Olympic Trials in Indianapolis, Griffith Joyner entered the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul as a heavy favorite to win gold in the 100m and 200 meters.

After winning the 100m gold medal in a wind-aided 10.54 seconds, Griffith Joyner brought her full attention to the 200 meters. In the semifinals, Flo-Jo offered a preview of what was to come in setting a new world record of 21.56 seconds, shattering the previous standard of 21.71 established by Marita Koch and equaled by Heike Drechsler, both of East Germany.

A little less than two hours later, Griffith Joyner ran in the 200m final, her eighth race in five days. After holding a slight lead at the halfway mark, Flo-Jo left the field behind in destroying her own world record in the gold medal winning time of 21.34. Her 100m and 200m records still stand.

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.
20. Salazar wins third consecutive New York City Marathon.
19. Flo-Jo sets women's 200m world record.