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Show Page 10 ( September 23, 1998 L johnstoninfowest.com gressmeninfowest.com Editors: Courtney Gressmen & Loni Johnston Florence Griffith Joyner dies at age 38 p AFP News Service LOS ANGELES- Florence Griffith Joyner, the American sprinter who owns womens world records at 100 and 200 meters, died at her suburban home Monday at the age of 38 due to a heart seizure. The 1988 Olympic triple gold medalist won the 100 and 200 meters as well as aided the triumphant 4x100m relay team in Seoul, Korea. "We lost one of the great track and field athletes in history," said Greg Foster, a threetime 110m hurdles world champion. "She is going to be missed. It's definitely a shock, a great loss." Griffith Joyner married 1984 Olympic triple jump champion A1 Joyner in 1987. She was also the sister-in-laof heptathlon world-recor- d holder and w six-tim- medalist e Olympic Jackie Joyner-KerseThis was not the first seizure for Griffith Joyner, who had been hospitalized because of a seizure she experienced in April of 1996 while on a plane bound for St. Louis. The family kept other details of that incident private. Terry Crawford, the 1988 U.S. Olympic women's athletics coach, said she could not believe the news. "Frankly I'm in shock. e. Devastated," Crawford said. "Saw her a year ago. She was busy with her different busi nesses and had a project of youth track clubs in California. I had respect and a big place in my heart (for her). She was a great specimen of physical fitness. Questions of performance- who "stunned the world in Seoul 10 years ago, with her amazing sprints and spectacular outfits. Sadly, her life has passed as rapidly as her races. "All my thoughts are with AI Joyner and her her husband enhancing drugs dogged Griffith Joyner after she made sister-in-laJackie Joyner-Kerse- e before the this difficult time. at major speed gains 1988 U.S. Olympic trials and Their bereavement is shared by after her stunning Seoul showthe whole of the world athleting even after she passed every ics family." Foster learned of Griffith drug test given. Crawford said her efforts Joyner's death at her Mission deserve more fitting rememViejo home from Joyner-Kersebrances. who had been told of "Flo-J- o will go down in histhe tragic news by her brother. "Al called Jackie this morntory like one of the greatest athletes on Earth. She met ing saying that it was a every test," he said. "It would seizure," Foster said. "She had be very unfortunate to put any one a couple of years ago and black mark to her name. I hope was hospitalized a day or a the world day and a half. As far as I know, everything was fine embrace her." since then." Primo Joyner Kersee and her husband-coach Nebiolo, presBobby Kersee were ident of the traveling to Los Angeles and International couldn't be reached for comment. Griffith Joyner was also Federation, known for her was in fancy running uniforms and Brussels when long fingernails, showing a told of flamboyance for design that led basketball's Indiana Pacers to have her redesign their unideath. forms in 1989. "It is a Born on December 21, great shock 1959, Griffith Joyner stunned and which the world on July 16, 1988, makes d me with a world 100m record run during an extremely sad," Nebiolo early heat of qualifying at the said. U.S. trials in Olympic w e, OWE WEEK 0NLV would Athletics Griffith arai Joyner's ii 10.49-secon- $98.95 "I knew that Florence Reg. $109.95 had had heart 23-3- 0 DIXIE COLLEGE BOOKSTORE Gardner Student Center Mon. thru Thurs.- - 7:45 a.m. to 6 p.m. Fri.- - 7:45 a.m. to 5 p.m. some prob- lems in recent months, but DIXIE 3 2nd Floor Hours: with a 48.07 leg. By "I'm very surprised, said Canadian Bruny sprinter Surin. "I can't believe it. I remember she was incredible in Seoul. She was the best female athlete of the Games." didn't think that it was anything real- ly serious. "I never COLLEGE will forget this extraordi- nary athlete Indianapolis. On a blustery day, the wind gauge for Griffith Joyner's effort read no wind at all, a controversy that has crit- ics as recently as last week calling for the mark to be stricken or noted as believed to be wind-aide- the on i the) Moi Viet gam Thu Reb Coll Griffith Joyner had her best showing at the world championships in 1987, when she was second at 200m and part of the winning 4x100m relay. She 1 12-- sprinting Games. shortly 1 play goal: stopped Juac 18,th Save after the F She had hinted at making a comeback at various distances from 400 meters on up, even joining leisure runners in v events, but never did. Griffith Joyner's personal best at 400m was 50.94 By I I Griffith Joyner said she would attempt a comeback for the 1996 Atlanta Olympics but said a sore right Achilles tendon kept her from such a bid. "This is a tremendous shock to the Olympic family in the U.S. and the sport of track and field throughout the U.S. world," Olympic Committee president Bill Hybl said. "The USOC's thoughts are with Al Joyner and their family. Our hearts and thoughts are with them." "Flo Jo" was one of 11 chil- dren born to an electrical technician father and a mother who worked as a teacher. She served as an inspiration for a generation of d. Griffith Joyner went on to set the 200m world mark, 21.34 at the Seoul seconds, Olympics. She had finished second at 200m at the 1984 Games. Griffith Joyner was also part of the 400m silver medal jer Her efforts led her to be named Sullivan Award winner for 1988 as the year's outstanding amateur sports figure in the United States. Amateur Texas Instrument Graphing Calculator Sept. US relay, U.S sprinters, Hybl recalled. model for girls and young women in sports and her legacy will be one that included kindness and an interest in children. 'Flo "She was a role Jo' will be missed tremendousiy-- - johm T1 faced they Ricks "V tion match push Head Johnst "They and h out he matchi Th North mtensi came c series is, i: point, ahead anothe Sar locked match Alt defeat, stats. |