Lolo Jones secures spot on second consecutive Olympic team
USA TODAY - There it had been, for all of Hayward Field and millions watching on NBC television to envision.
Normally, that is common for Jones, the bubbling and animated track star from Des Moines.
PHOTOS: U.S. Olympic track trials
Until this moment, though, when Jones secured her spot on a second consecutive Olympic team Saturday night at the U.S. Olympic Trials, the smile had been packed away in a very suitcase of concern and doubt.
The smile came back, though, when Jones finished third in the women's 100-meter hurdles final in twelve.86 seconds — securing the ultimate spot for the London Olympics.
In that moment, the smile and the joyful bounce came back for Jones, who fought back from surgery last August and a combine of hamstring injuries to — again — become an Olympian.
"I had my sports psychologist on speed dial one, my pastor on speed dial 2 and my mom on speed dial 3," Jones said of the pressure this weekend. "It was crazy."
The Olympic Trials champion was Dawn Harper, the lady who won gold in 2008 when Jones hit the second-to-last hurdle in Beijing.
Harper bested the stacked field in a very time of twelve.77, simply previous runner-up Kellie Wells.
For Jones, third place has never felt this good.
"I wakened (Saturday morning) and that i did not even suppose i would create the team," said Jones, sooner or later when a disappointing start in a very prelim that cause her to interrupt the dreaded 13-second barrier.
"I was fighting a constant head battle, simply trying to seek out the boldness.
"I'm simply thrilled to possess another shot."
Dennis Shaver, Lolo's personal coach who guided her whereas she constructed a star-studded career at LSU, knew the challenge to make this Olympic team would be harder because of the surgery and injures.
He additionally knew one thing else.
"She's a troublesome person," Shaver said as he waited for Jones to surface from the Hayward Field track. "She's not the kind of person you'll count out in a very pressure state of affairs. i am not surprised she rose to the occasion."
The pressure to come back to the Olympics intensified to levels even Jones did not expect.
Jones became even additional of a national name this year with appearances on or in ESPN, HBO, the NBC Nightly News, Rolling Stone and additional.
The final days and hours before the pressure-melting final felt like "two married individuals bickering," Jones said.
"That's how each relationship was," Jones said. "With my coach, my family. (Friday), when the primary round, once I ran 13 seconds, I went back in and, as calm as I may, however it had been simply not — it had been like a reality meltdown — i was like, 'Coach Shaver, i would like you to stop lying to me. Do I look bad?' "
"It wasn't that calm. i was really screaming. I really threw a shoe. it had been a nightmare. i am simply glad I got it all over, and that i have a month to organize for the Olympics."
Shaver, her coach, pumped as much confidence into Jones as attainable.
"I kept telling here expertise means one thing during this meet," he said. "She's been here. we knew her best races were previous her (after recovering from injuries). and we knew this (Olympic Trials) would be the toughest half."
"She's a troublesome cookie."
As an on-track interview with Jones over the general public address system boomed into the chilled Oregon sky, Angie Jefferson, Lolo's sister, beamed.
"She's a fighter," Jefferson said. "I told her, 'Nothing has return easy' or ever been handed to her. She fought."
Jones wasn't alone on the track Saturday night.
She was there. however so was her trademark smile.
"It's nice to envision that again," Jefferson said. "She's got a stunning smile, does not she?"
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