Maggie Vessey
Encyclopedia
Maggie Vessey is an American
athlete
who competes in middle distance track event
s. Vessey represented the United States at the 2009 World Championships
in the 800 m
.
While competing for Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo
, Vessey was the Big West Conference
800 m champion twice. She finished second in the 800 m at the 2005 NCAA
championships.
At the 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials
, Vessey finished 5th in the 800 m, with a time of 2:02.01. In June 2009, Vessey was a surprise winner at the Prefontaine Classic
, in 2:00.18. The race director said Vessey "was a last-minute, last-minute add. One step above a field-filler". The competition included Olympic gold medal
ist Pamela Jelimo
.
Vessey continued her impressive results in 2009. At the Herculis meet
in Monaco
, she won the race with a time of 1:57.84. At the time, this was the fastest 800 m performance for the year, and tied for the seventh fastest by an American runner. This result earned Vessey a place on the US 2009 World Championship team
—she finished 4th at the 2009 U.S. Championships
, and needed to break 2:00 to earn an "A" standard.
At the 2009 World Championships, Vessey finished seventh in the 800 m semifinal with a time of 2:03.55. At the 2011 World Championships, Vessey finished sixth in the 800 with a time of 1:58.50.
In 2011, masters runner Rose Monday became Vessey's coach. She qualified for the finals of the 800 m at the 2011 World Championships in Athletics
, where she finished sixth. A week later, Vessey won the 800 m at the Hanžeković Memorial
as part of the IAAF World Challenge Meetings.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
athlete
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
who competes in middle distance track event
Middle distance track event
Middle distance running events are track races longer than sprints, up to 3000 metres. The standard middle distances are the 800 metres, 1500 metres and mile run, although the 3000 metres may also be classified as a middle distance event. The 880 yard run, or half mile, was the forebear to the...
s. Vessey represented the United States at the 2009 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 800 m
800 metres
The 800 meter race is a common track running event. It is the shortest common middle distance track event. The 800 meter is run over two laps of the track and has always been an Olympic event. During indoor track season the event is usually run on a 200 meter track, therefore requiring four laps...
.
While competing for Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo
California Polytechnic State University
California Polytechnic State University, or Cal Poly, is a public university located in San Luis Obispo, California, United States. The university is one of two polytechnic campuses in the 23-member California State University system....
, Vessey was the Big West Conference
Big West Conference
The Big West Conference is an NCAA-affiliated Division I mid-major college athletic conference. When the conference began in 1969, its name was the Pacific Coast Athletic Association . After nineteen years, in 1988, its name was changed to the Big West Conference. The conference stopped...
800 m champion twice. She finished second in the 800 m at the 2005 NCAA
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
championships.
At the 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials
United States Olympic Trials (track and field)
The United States Olympic Trials for the sport of Track and Field is the quadrennial meet to select the United States representatives at the Olympic Games. Since 1992, the meet has also served as the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Because of the depth of competition in some events,...
, Vessey finished 5th in the 800 m, with a time of 2:02.01. In June 2009, Vessey was a surprise winner at the Prefontaine Classic
Prefontaine Classic
The Prefontaine Classic is one of the premier track and field meets in the United States. Every year it draws a world caliber field to compete at the University of Oregon's Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.-History:...
, in 2:00.18. The race director said Vessey "was a last-minute, last-minute add. One step above a field-filler". The competition included Olympic gold medal
Gold medal
A gold medal is typically the medal awarded for highest achievement in a non-military field. Its name derives from the use of at least a fraction of gold in form of plating or alloying in its manufacture...
ist Pamela Jelimo
Pamela Jelimo
Pamela Jelimo is a Kenyan middle-distance runner, specialising in the 800 metres. She won the gold medal at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. She is the first Kenyan woman to win an Olympic gold medal and also the first Kenyan to win the Golden League Jackpot...
.
Vessey continued her impressive results in 2009. At the Herculis meet
Herculis
The Herculis is an annual track and field meet at Stade Louis II in Fontvieille, Monaco. Previously one of the five IAAF Super Grand Prix events, it is now part of the IAAF Diamond League.-World records:...
in Monaco
Monaco
Monaco , officially the Principality of Monaco , is a sovereign city state on the French Riviera. It is bordered on three sides by its neighbour, France, and its centre is about from Italy. Its area is with a population of 35,986 as of 2011 and is the most densely populated country in the...
, she won the race with a time of 1:57.84. At the time, this was the fastest 800 m performance for the year, and tied for the seventh fastest by an American runner. This result earned Vessey a place on the US 2009 World Championship team
United States at the 2009 World Championships in Athletics
United States compete at the 2009 World Championships in Athletics from 15–23 August. A team of over 100 athletes was announced in preparation for the competition. Team USA athletes honoured Jessie Owens' memory by displaying the letters JO on their competition singlets. Selected athletes achieved...
—she finished 4th at the 2009 U.S. Championships
USA 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...
, and needed to break 2:00 to earn an "A" standard.
At the 2009 World Championships, Vessey finished seventh in the 800 m semifinal with a time of 2:03.55. At the 2011 World Championships, Vessey finished sixth in the 800 with a time of 1:58.50.
In 2011, masters runner Rose Monday became Vessey's coach. She qualified for the finals of the 800 m at the 2011 World Championships in Athletics
2011 World Championships in Athletics
The 13th IAAF World Championships in Athletics was an international athletics competition that was held in Daegu, South Korea. It started on 27 August 2011 and finished on 4 September 2011....
, where she finished sixth. A week later, Vessey won the 800 m at the Hanžeković Memorial
Hanžeković Memorial
Hanžeković Memorial is an athletics event at the ŠRC Mladost Stadion in Zagreb, Croatia as part of the IAAF World Challenge Meetings. It was first organized in 1951.- Name :...
as part of the IAAF World Challenge Meetings.
External links
- Official site
- USA Track & Field: Maggie Vessey
- Maggie Vessey Photo Gallery at Universal Sports