July 29, 2008
On a warm summer morning, 197 women sprinted 150 meters through Central Park in three-inch high heels. No, there wasn't a blowout sale at Macy's. These women were participating in the High Heel-a-thon, a charity event put on by the popular television show Live with Regis and Kelly.
In the end, former Penn State track and field star Chi-Chi Aduba came out on top and found herself $25,000 richer.
"When I crossed the finish line, I realized there was nobody around me," Aduba said. "I was like, `Oh my God, I won!' Then I thought, `I need to take these shoes off; my feet are hurting.'"
When asked by the show's host, Regis Philbin, how she trained for the event, Aduba joked, "I'm always late and I'm always in heels, so I've been training for about 10 years."
In addition to taking first place in the competition, she was recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records for running the fastest 150 meters in high heels with a final time of 0:20.65. Aduba said she thought the record was "pretty cool."
The event featured nearly 500 participants, approximately 400 women and 100 men. It aired on Live with Regis and Kelly on Wednesday, July 9 and benefited the March of Dimes. Qualifying events were held prior to the final, televised race to determine which participants would take place in the final race.
The following day, Aduba returned to the show as a special guest. The event was also featured by several other shows including Inside Edition, Access Hollywood and Entertainment Tonight, and also by several New York radio stations. Aduba remarked that there was a lot of press at the event and that the media covered it very well.
Aduba, a 2004 graduate, works as a marketing manager in the brand marketing department of Sports Illustrated in New York City, N.Y. She became involved with the competition after her college roommate's mother saw it on the show and called to tell her about it. Aduba said she initially had some doubts because she was no longer involved with track and field events but she was very glad she had the experience.
"It was fun," Aduba said. "It was creative. The event was really well put on. They had tents and refreshments for everyone."
During her time at Penn State, Aduba earned five All-America honors and three Big Ten Championships. She also earned a conference relay title in the 4x100-meter relay. Aduba participated in sprints, jumps and relays with her biggest successes in the long and triple jumps. She holds the Penn State record in each of those events and also holds a record in the 4x100-meter relay event.
The standout star began her career at Medfield High School in Medfield, Mass. where she was named Most Valuable Player. Aduba was also a State Champion in the long jump and triple jump events, becoming the New England Champion and record holder in the triple jump.
She made the transition to Penn State easily, competing in the long and triple jump events at various meets throughout the season as a true freshman. She was also a member of the 4x100 relay team that set a school record.
The following year, Aduba continued to build a name for herself by winning several events. By the end of her sophomore season, she had been named the Indoor Big Ten Champion in the long jump and was an NCAA Indoor provisional qualifier for the event.
Aduba put forth a stellar effort her junior year, breaking two school records for the indoor triple jump and the outdoor long jump. She also set a new Big Ten meet record for the triple jump, earning an Indoor Big Ten Championship. Aduba was named the Mid Atlantic Regional Indoor Athlete of the Year and earned NCAA Indoor All-America honors after finishing fifth in the long jump and fourth in the triple jump competition.
Her outstanding performance continued during her senior year as Aduba finished her career with five All-America honors, setting two new school records for the long and triple jumps. She also won the NCAA East Regional long jump and finished as the runner-up in the triple jump.
In 2004, following her senior season, Aduba competed in the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials in both the long and triple jump competitions where she placed 15th in the long jump with a mark of 20-5 3/4.
One can assume that Aduba never envisioned herself vying for $25,000 by sprinting in three-inch heels. However, it would be a safe bet that her sore feet are feeling much better following the experience and her exciting win.
--NITTANY LIONS-