 Stephanie Hightower | ||
| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Women'sAthletics | ||
Representing United States | ||
| Pan American Games | ||
 | 1987 Indianapolis | 100 m hurdles |
| Liberty Bell Classic | ||
 | 1980 Philadelphia | 100 m hurdles |
Stephanie Hightower (born July 19, 1958) is an American former hurdler and former president ofUSA Track & Field (USATF). She is a four-time U.S. Champion at100 meter hurdles and a five-time U.S. Indoor Champion at60 meter hurdles. She also won the1980 U.S. Olympic Trials, but was prevented from competing in theMoscow Olympics due to theboycott. She won a silver medal at the1987 Pan American Games.
Hightower became president of USA Track & Field in December 2008.[1] She resigned as chair of the USATF board in April 2015 and was elected to theIAAF Council in August 2015[2][3] She resigned as president of USATF in December 2016.[4]
Born inLouisville, Kentucky, Hightower was a collegiatetrack star atOhio State University. From 1977 to 1980, she did not lose a race in the 60-meter dash, 60-meter hurdles or the 100-meter hurdles, and earnedBig Ten Conference,NCAA and National championship titles. She was unable to participate in the1980 Summer Olympics due to theUS boycott of the games. She did however receive one of 461Congressional Gold Medals created especially for the spurned athletes.[5] Hightower missed the1984 Summer Olympics, finishing fourth in what looked like a four-way tie at theOlympic Trials.Kim Turner won the race in 13.12 seconds, withBenita Fitzgerald-Brown in second,Pam Page in third and Hightower in fourth, all running 13.13 seconds,[6][7] in what was possibly the closest elite race in history.[6][8][9] The photo of the finish was later used for instruction in the use ofphoto finish devices.
Twenty eight years later, as President of USATF, Hightower was part of the administrative committee formed to settle another controversial close finish, whenJeneba Tarmoh andAllyson Felix tied for the final qualifying spot in the2012 Olympic Trials.
After retiring from competition, Hightower has held various positions with the USATF, including serving as women's team manager at the2004 Athens Olympic Games. She is currently the President and CEO of the Columbus Urban League. In addition, she has served in theColumbus Mayor's cabinet for Sports Development. In 2011, Hightower was discussed as a possibility for the USATF'sCEO position until the board decided onMax Siegel.[10]
Hightower is the niece ofAmerican footballHall of FamerPaul Warfield.[7] and wife of former world cross country championIan Stewart.
| Year | Competition | Venue | Position | Event | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Representing United States | |||||
| 1980 | Liberty Bell Classic | Philadelphia, United States | 1st | 100 m hurdles | 13.08 |
| 1981 | World Cup | Rome, Italy | 4th | 100 m hurdles | 13.09 |
| 1985 | World Indoor Games | Paris, France | 4th | 60 m hurdles | 8.12 |
| 1987 | World Indoor Championships | Indianapolis, United States | 8th | 60 m hurdles | 8.26 |
| Pan American Games | Indianapolis, United States | 2nd | 100 m hurdles | 12.82 | |
| World Championships | Rome, Italy | 11th (sf) | 100 m hurdles | 13.12 | |
| (sf) Indicates overall position in qualifying round | |||||
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