EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — It’s not often you see the hurdler finishing in the back signing autographs before she heads off the track.
In this case, that hurdler was Lolo Jones.
Jones, 41, was once one of the main faces of track and field — with endorsements galore and high expectations to win as she headed into the 2008 Olympics. She tripped on the ninth hurdle in Beijing and finished seventh but left as big of a celebrity as she came.
She’s still a fan favorite.
On Friday, she was entered in the 100-meter hurdles at the U.S. Olympic track and field trials. Jones finished last in her heat, which wasn’t a big surprise. But she’s moving on to the semifinals. In fact, everyone who made it over the 10 hurdles advanced after two competitors didn’t start.
Jones’ time of 14.86 wasn’t particularly speedy — her best legal time is 12.43 — but she’s just about six weeks removed from a torn hamstring and hasn’t hurdled much since then.
“Toradol, the official sponsor of 40 year olds,” joked Jones of the pain medication.