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THIS YEAR: Junior Nia Ali hopes for a return to health this season. She showed flashes of her potential last season for USC after transferring from Tennessee. 2008: Was cleared to run for USC just prior to the season when Tennessee granted her transfer waivers. She was injured for much of the season, though had some impressive highlights for USC at the Pac-10 Multi-Events Championships before having to pull out of the competition with a sore hamstring. In her first heptathlon for USC, Ali amassed a first-day PR of 3,306 points to stand second, while setting PRs in the 100m HH (13.14), high jump (5-8 3/4) and 200m (23.94). Her 100m HH time ranks fourth all-time by a Trojan female and her high jump clearance is tied for 10th. She also won the 100m HH at the USC-UCLA Dual Meet on May 3 with a time of 13.38. Due to an injury to Carol Rodriguez, Ali was inserted into the anchor position for USC's 4x100m relay team at the NCAA West Regional and she reaggrevated the injury and limped across the finish line second with a time of 44.64. She then valiantly tried to run in the 100m HH finals, but had to limp to the finish and finished eighth, after qualifying with the third-fastest time. She then ran a 13.24 100m HH time in the preliminaries at the NCAA Championships to advance with the seventh-fastest time, but could not finish the semifinals race. 2007: Won the SEC heptathlon championship as a freshman for Tennessee with a two-day score of 5,490, a new career best. Set a then PR in the 100m HH in the event with a time of 13.25 and ran a 24.0 in the 200m. Again ran a 13.25 100m HH to place third at the SEC Championships. Placed 9th in the high jump at 5-7 (1.70m). Qualified for the NCAA Championships in the heptathlon, but did not compete. HIGH SCHOOL: Attended national track powerhouse West Catholic in Philadelphia, Pa. before transferring to and graduating from Pleasantville High in New Jersey...Ran track and field two seasons and played basketball and softball one season each...Ranked number one in the nation as a senior in two indoor hurdles events by Track & Field News and was sixth in the 100m HH...Her indoor best in the 60m HH was 8.36 at the 2006 Nike Indoor National Championships, which led all prep girls and was a Nike Indoors Nationals record...Had a time of 13.63 in the 100m HH...Named to the All-USA Today Girls Track & Field Team...Placed 4th at the 2006 USA Track & Field Junior National Championships in the 100m HH with a wind-aided time of 13.55...Won the 2006 NJSIAA Group II indoor championships in the 55m (7.20), 55m HH (8.32), 200m (25.19) and 400m (59.54). PERSONAL: Nia was born on Oct. 23, 1988 in Norristown, Pa...In her spare time she plays the piano and enjoys playing basketball as well as dancing...She is an undeclared major at USC. CAREER BESTS: 100m HH -- 13.14 Heptathlon -- 5,490 |
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