Jessica Beard
Encyclopedia
Jessica Beard is an American
sprinter who qualified for the 2009 IAAF World Championships
in the 4x400-meter relay and 400 meters. She won the gold medal with the relay team. She also was fifth in the 400 m at the 2006 World Junior Championships in Athletics
and improved to win the silver medal at the 2008 World Junior Championships
.
As a freshman she got off to a fast start by placing fourth in the 400 meters at the NCAA Championships. Jessica also became the Big 12 Champion in the 400 meter dash, running her personal best time of 51.09 seconds and she was voted Big 12 freshman of the year.
During her sophomore year, she continued her success winning both the indoor and outdoor Big 12 title in the 400 meters and finished second in the 400 m at the NCAA Championships. Jessica set a new school record with a time of 50.56 that year.
in Eugene, Oregon
. That qualified her for the World Championships
taking place in Berlin
, Germany later that year. At the championships Beard placed 13th overall in the women's 400 m and took home the gold as part of the 4x400 m relay.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
sprinter who qualified for the 2009 IAAF World Championships
2009 World Championships in Athletics
The 12th IAAF World Championships in Athletics were held in Berlin, Germany from 15–23 August 2009. The majority of events took place in the Olympiastadion, while the marathon and racewalking events started and finished at the Brandenburg Gate....
in the 4x400-meter relay and 400 meters. She won the gold medal with the relay team. She also was fifth in the 400 m at the 2006 World Junior Championships in Athletics
2006 World Junior Championships in Athletics
The 2006 World Junior Championships in Athletics is the 2006 version of the World Junior Championships in Athletics. It was held from 15 August to 20 August at the Chaoyang Sports Center in Beijing, the capital of the People's Republic of China....
and improved to win the silver medal at the 2008 World Junior Championships
2008 World Junior Championships in Athletics
The 2008 World Junior Championships in Athletics is the 2008 version of the World Junior Championships in Athletics. It was held in Bydgoszcz in Poland at the Zdzisław Krzyszkowiak Stadium between 8 and 13 July 2008....
.
High school and college
In high school she was a four year letter winner for the Euclid High School track and field squad. She was state champion in the 400 meters for four straight years setting a new Ohio state record in 2007. She decided to go to Texas A&M on a track scholarship the following year.As a freshman she got off to a fast start by placing fourth in the 400 meters at the NCAA Championships. Jessica also became the Big 12 Champion in the 400 meter dash, running her personal best time of 51.09 seconds and she was voted Big 12 freshman of the year.
During her sophomore year, she continued her success winning both the indoor and outdoor Big 12 title in the 400 meters and finished second in the 400 m at the NCAA Championships. Jessica set a new school record with a time of 50.56 that year.
Elite competition
Competing at the national level, in her 2009 track season Beard placed third in the 400 m at the USA Outdoor Track and Field ChampionshipsUSA Outdoor Track and Field Championships
The USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships is an annual track and field competition organized by USA Track & Field, which serves as the American national championships for the sport...
in Eugene, Oregon
Eugene, Oregon
Eugene is the second largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon and the seat of Lane County. It is located at the south end of the Willamette Valley, at the confluence of the McKenzie and Willamette rivers, about east of the Oregon Coast.As of the 2010 U.S...
. That qualified her for the World Championships
2009 World Championships in Athletics
The 12th IAAF World Championships in Athletics were held in Berlin, Germany from 15–23 August 2009. The majority of events took place in the Olympiastadion, while the marathon and racewalking events started and finished at the Brandenburg Gate....
taking place in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, Germany later that year. At the championships Beard placed 13th overall in the women's 400 m and took home the gold as part of the 4x400 m relay.