Nnenya Hailey
Personal information
Birth nameCara Nnenya Hailey
Nationality USA
Born23 February 1994 (29 years, 319 days old)[1]
Home townAtlanta, Georgia[2]
EducationMount Vernon Presbyterian School
Clemson University
University of Arizona[2]
Height165 cm (5 ft 5 in)[1]
Weight54 kg (119 lb)[1]
Sport
SportAthletics
Event(s)400 metres hurdles
100 metres hurdles
College teamClemson Tigers
Arizona Wildcats[2]
Achievements and titles
National finals
Personal bests
Medal record
Women's athletics
Representing  United States
World U18 Championships
Gold medal – first place2011 Lille Métropole400 m hurdles
Updated on December 28, 2023.

Cara Nnenya Hailey (CAH-ruh KNEEN-yuh HAY-lee;[2] born February 23, 1994) is an American hurdler specializing in the 400 metres hurdles. She won the gold medal in the 400 m hurdles at the 2011 World U18 Championships.

Biography

Hailey is from Atlanta, Georgia where she attended Mount Vernon Presbyterian School, winning four Georgia High School Association AAA state championships in the 200 metres and 300 metres hurdles, plus two championships in the 100 metres hurdles.[2][3]

In 2011, Hailey won the United States World Youth Trials in the 400 metres hurdles, qualifying her for the 2011 World U18 Championships in Athletics.[1] At the championships, Hailey advanced to the finals as the fastest qualifier and built up a significant lead through nine hurdles.[4] Despite hitting the final hurdle, Hailey maintained her lead and won the gold medal in a world U18 leading time of 57.93 – the second-fastest time ever by a U.S. high schooler behind only Leah Nugent.[4][5]

Hailey spent the 2012–13 season on the Clemson Tigers track and field team, finishing 3rd in the 400 m hurdles at the 2013 Atlantic Coast Conference outdoor championships.[3][6] For the remainder of her collegiate career, she transferred to the Arizona Wildcats track and field program. At Arizona, she was a standout athlete achieving NCAA championship appearances in 2014, 2015, and 2016, including 7th and 6th-place finishes at the 2015 indoor and outdoor championships respectively.[1][7][8]

Hailey aimed to make her first Olympic team at the 2021 United States Olympic trials. She finished second to Sydney McLaughlin in her heat in an Olympic qualifying time of 55.05 seconds,[9] but she left the track with unexpected knee issues as the meet was delayed with 92 °F (33 °C) temperatures. Before her heat started, Hailey had to beg spectators in the stands for water, and four consecutive false starts caused McLaughlin's knees to bleed from kneeling on the hot track for so long.[10]

Hailey advanced for the finals and finished 5th across the line, but she was later disqualified.[11][12]

Statistics

Personal bests

EventMarkPlaceCompetitionVenueDateRef
400 metres hurdles54.212nd place, silver medalist(s)Kamila Skolimowska MemorialChorzów, PolandSeptember 5, 2021[1]
100 metres hurdles12.96 (+1.3 m/s)1st place, gold medalist(s)Jim Click ShootoutTucson, ArizonaApril 9, 2016[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Nnenya Hailey at Tilastopaja (registration required)
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "2015–16 Track and Field Roster – Nnenya Hailey".
  3. 1 2 "2012–13 Clemson Track & Field Guide". Issuu. p. 36.
  4. 1 2 Kamani, Joy. "Nnenya Hailey Captures Gold for Team USA". National Scholastic Athletics Foundation.
  5. ↑ "Standout Student – Nnenya Hailey". Rough Draft Atlanta.
  6. ↑ Nnenya Hailey profile at TFRRS
  7. ↑ "No. 95 • Nnenya Hailey". Arizona Daily Star.
  8. ↑ "No. 62 • Nnenya Hailey". Arizona Daily Star.
  9. ↑ "ATHLETICS: Bor and Finley claim Steeple and discus titles; Thomas and Prandini scream to 21.94–21.99 women's 200 m semis wins; Mu and McLaughlin scary". The Sports Examiner.
  10. ↑ "Keeping cool: Heat, starting gun the biggest trials tests". USA Today.
  11. ↑ "Wildcats Wrap Up U.S. Olympic Trials". Arizona Wildcats.
  12. ↑ "2021 Olympic Trials results".
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