LoloWiki

USA’s World Indoor 60m Hurdles champion Lolo Jones is already well into her competitive outdoor season, and in her latest diary for the IAAF website she reflects on her faster than usual times at the start of the season, and the enjoyment and difficulties of travelling around the international circuit with the peril of lost luggage always at the back of an athlete’s mind.


“Hi again,

It is nice to be back competing again and after three competitions this year I’ve been running a lot faster than I normally run at this time of year. I started the season with victories in Baton Rouge (12.72) and in Drake (12.74) and then went on to Doha and finished second (behind Brigitte Foster-Hylton) in 12.65.”

Note: since this diary was written, last weekend - 24 May - Lolo ran and won in Hengelo in 12.87.

“Doha was a weird race because I got my arms tangled up with Josephine Onyia and I hit hurdles five, six and seven. At one point I didn’t even think I would finish the race, so I was pleased to clock 12.65 for second. It was certainly a lot faster than last year when I started out in the 12.80s before then moving on to the 12.70s.

Doha is also a long way from America and you always feel you hit the wall with tiredness when you get there. The problem was my luggage went missing along with Allyson Felix’s and Virginia Powell’s. I always carry my essentials such as kit and spikes in my hand luggage because I’ve lost my luggage so many times, but it still meant I had to wear the same outfit for three days. I am sponsored by Asics, but because most athletes are sponsored by Nike or Adidas it is not even like I can easily change clothes to match my sponsor.

Thankfully, because I was travelling, I wore a bunch of layers on the plane, so one day I was wearing a long sleeves, another day a tank top. It is always funny seeing the crazy ways athletes have to dress when they have so few clothes to choose from after losing their luggage!

Now I move on the European leg of the season where I hope to run five times before returning back home for the US Trials. I plan to compete in Hengelo on Saturday (see note above) before going on to Belgrade, Berlin, Oslo and Ostrava. This could change, but I don’t mind regularly competing because I know I’m going to have to race two races each day over two days at the Olympics and my body has to become used to those demands.

I enjoy travelling around Europe, although I don’t get to see a lot other than the hotel or track. I just enjoy competing in countries such as Germany, Belgium or Great Britain because their fans have a good knowledge of athletics and, usually, full stadiums. Some athletes have already been running crazy, fast times in the 100m hurdles this year but you expect that because it is an Olympic year.”

Lolo

Source: IAAF