Already one of the most decorated female athletes in history, former University of Wisconsin star Suzy Favor Hamilton added another accomplishment to her storied career Thursday, as she was named one of the Drake Relays' Athletes of the Century.
Favor Hamilton, who won nine NCAA championships during her career at Wisconsin, was one of three additional Athletes of the Century announced at a press conference Thursday and joins fellow former UW All-American Cindy Bremser on the list.
As part of their build-up to the event's 100th running in April, meet organizers have unveiled five of the 10 top female athletes in Drake Relays history. More information on the 100th anniversary celebration can be found on the official Drake Relays Web site .
The only athlete to hold Drake Relays records in three different events, Favor Hamilton set women's standards in the invitational 800 meters (2:01.68) in 1998, invitational 1,500 meters (4:05.13) in 2000 and invitational 3,000 meters (8:56.03) in 2002. She won a total of four individual Drake Relays titles, including back-to-back wins in the invitational 800 meters in 1997 and 1998. She also claimed the 1,500 title in 2000 and won invitational 3,000 in 2002.
Favor Hamilton was named the outstanding performer of the 1998 and 2000 Drake Relays and was inducted into the Drake Relays Hall of Fame in 2001.
A three-time Olympian, Favor Hamilton also is a three-time U.S. outdoor champion and a three-time U.S. indoor champion. She also was the U.S.'s No. 1-ranked runner in the 1,500 meters in 1989, 1990, 1998, 2000, 2001 and 2002.
At Wisconsin, Favor Hamilton became the most decorated female college athlete ever, winning a record nine individual NCAA championships while setting collegiate records in the 800 and 1,500. Her 800 meters time of 1:59.11 still stands as the all-time NCAA standard.
Favor Hamilton was awarded the Broderick Cup as the nation's top female collegiate athlete in 1990 and twice was named winner of the Honda Award as the NCAA 's top runner. The Big Ten Conference's athlete of the year award is now named in her honor after Favor Hamilton claimed the distinction in three consecutive years.
In 2006, Favor Hamilton was named one of the two top athletes from the first 25 years of the NCAA women's track and field championship.
The other athletes named to the Drake Relays Athletes of the Century list Thursday were four-time Olympic discus gold medalist Al Oerter, hurdler and Olympic gold medalist Rodney Milburn, former Alabama sprinter Calvin Smith, Oklahoma heptathlete Jill Lancaster and Prairie View relay star Essie Kelley Washington.
They join Bremser, Olympic high jumper Amy Acuff, legendary miler Steve Scott and 17-time Drake Relays decathlon winner Kip Janvrin as the athletes comprising the first half of the Athletes of the Century list.
RELATED CONTENT
mid=2335"> --> Collegiate Video Highlights - see Suzy run at Wisconsin and in her early career
" Wisconsin Reflections " TV Show featuring Suzy Favor Hamilton
