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Family affair Clarks sweep their way to Sydney in 800 meters
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) -- Team Clark will be heading to the Sydney Games. Barely. The youngest member of the talented 800-meter family, Hazel Clark, took first place and her sister-in-law and sister followed Sunday at the U.S. Olympic trials. Clark finished first in 1 minute, 58.97 seconds and sister-in-law Jearl Miles-Clark was timed in 1:59.12. But the most dramatic finish came from Hazel's older sister, Joetta. Coming from the back of the pack in the final lap, Joetta caught and just edged Meredith Rainey-Valmon for third. A desperate lunge and a lean at the finish bought Joetta a trip to Sydney. She finished in 1:59.49, while Rainey-Valmon had a time of 1:59.50. "I didn't get started the way I wanted, but I stayed confident," Joetta said. "But I saw my chances going and I had worked too hard not to get there. I ran that last 100 like my life depended on it. I kept digging." After the race, Jearl collapsed and was helped off the track. The family, which includes brother J.J. Clark and father Joe Clark, gathered together to celebrate just off the track following the dramatic race. "I kept saying it's not that hot, we live in Florida," Jearl said. "I didn't stay hydrated and toward the end of the race my legs were shot, depleted. I feel a lot better now." At the bell lap, Hazel still held a slight lead over Rainey-Valmon and Miles-Clark as the group began putting distance on the rest of the field. Down the stretch, Hazel Clark held off Miles-Clark, who finished fast for second. It was left to the elder Clark to complete the day. She did, running from the extreme rear through 500 meters and just passing Rainey-Valmon in a photo finish. "I kind of felt I outleaned her," Joetta said. "I wasn't sure if I had got her. Then I saw it on the scoreboard and knew we did it. Now I look forward to making history with my family." J.J. Clark, brother of Hazel and Joetta, and Jearl's husband, coaches all three runners. Joe Clark, the family patriarch, was also a spectator. He was the principal of Eastside High School in Paterson, N.J., a strict disciplinarian who had his life portrayed in a 1989 movie, "Lean On Me," starring Morgan Freeman. It's been quite a career for Joetta, 37, who has spent the past 21 years ranked among the top 10 800 runners. This was her sixth and final Olympic trials. She will retire after her fourth Olympic appearance, the same number as Jearl. "It would have been hard if I didn't make it," Joetta said. "It was something the family really wanted to do. I would have let them down, but I did my best. This is my last race in this country, it was a great final race." Jearl, 33, established an American record last year with a 1:56.40 and was an Olympic gold medalist in the 1,600 relay in 1996. She qualified second in this year's trials in the 400. Hazel, 22, is the baby of the group, a four-time NCAA champion (three indoor titles) who competed at her first trials and will make her Olympic debut. "I wanted this real bad, I said a prayer for all of us before the race," Hazel said. "But I felt they would come through. I'm young, I was really scared."
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