June 21, 2008
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad - Becoming just the second Olympian in program history, redshirt sophomore Aleesha Barber (Decatur, Ga.) has qualified to represent the country of Trinidad and Tobago at the 2008 Olympic Games, winning the 100-meter hurdles in 13.07, Saturday at the Sagicor National Open Track and Field Championships at Hasely Crawford Stadium. Barber follows Nittany Lion standout Connie Moore, who was a member of the United States team at the 2004 Olympic Games, as the second member of the Penn State women's track and field team to qualify for an Olympic Games. Barber's wind-legal PR of 12.90 - run at the NCAA East Regional last month - betters the Olympic "A" standard, which guarantees her a slot in the competition, to be held from August 8-24, in Beijing, China.
Barber recently wrapped up an outstanding collegiate season, in which she was a member of Penn State's winning 4x400-meter relay team at the NCAA Championships. Barber was also an NCAA All-American individually, notching a fourth-place finish in the 100-meter hurdles. Already a six-time All-American, Barber was the 2008 Big Ten Champion in the short hurdles, as well as the conference silver medalist in the 100-meters, and 400-meter hurdles.