Brigetta Barrett clears 6-4 (1.93m) in the women’s high jump qualifying. Photo by Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Arizona Wildcats senior Brigetta Barrett will go for a medal Saturday in the women’s high jump at the London Olympics.
Barrett cleared 6 feet, 4 inches in Thursday’s qualifying to be one of 12 high jumpers to advance to the final.
Barrett needed two tries to jump 6-4, which was her only miss of the qualifying round. She set a personal record of 6-7 at the U.S. Olympic Trials earlier this summer, finishing second in that event to American record-holder Chaunte Lowe, who also in the Olympic final.
The other American competitor, 37-year-old Amy Acuff, failed to jump past 6-0 3/4 and was eliminated in her fifth Olympics.
Lowe and reigning world champion Anna Chicherova of Russia are favorites for the gold medal, but Barrett stands a good chance to be on the medal stand in her first Olympics. Her mark of 6-7 was the best-ever for a college athlete, and, at 21, she has yet to hit her peak in the sport.
Barrett is the two-time defending NCAA high jump indoors and outdoors.
The Olympic final will begin Saturday at 11 a.m. Tucson time.