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Spotlight: Amy Acuff, High Jump
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Posted: Friday July 02, 1999 11:23 AM
Acuff takes fashion further. |
Born: July 14, 1975, Port Arthur, Texas
Residence: Los Angeles
Upcoming Event: High Jump, U.S. Track and Field Outdoor Nationals, Eugene, Ore., June 24-27
Worth Watching Because: Currently the fifth-ranked female high jumper in the world, Acuff is not only a top competitor but also a show-stopper. Acuff rides into this year's Nationals on a wave of media attention that started swelling last March at New York's Millrose Games when she literally sent fur flying. Opting not to wear a traditional spandex outfit, Acuff wore instead a gray, fur tube top and black briefs trimmed with fur. The fur was fake but the attention that the 6' 2" Acuff drew was very real.
"It's no fun to show up wearing the same [outfit] as the other competitors," Acuff said. "I want to be different."
Acuff may wow the crowd with her attire, but her jumping ability is just as eye-catching. Her personal best -- a 6-6.75 set in 1997 -- would have won her the national indoor title in February, but her 6-4 jump placed her second to Tisha Waller's 6-5. Acuff also finished second at last year's outdoor championships with a jump of 6-4.25. She cleared the bar on her third attempt, but fell short of the crown since Waller cleared the same height on her first attempt.
Recently, Acuff, a model with Click Agency in Los Angeles, decided to drum up some publicity for her sport. Along with several other top track and field stars, she posed nude for the Omni-Lite Millennium Calendar of Champions. Acuff was photographed waving an American flag, her torso painted red, white and blue. A portion of the proceeds from calendar sales go to the Florence Griffith Joyner Community Empowerment Foundation.
Whether she wins or not, Acuff is determined to be noticed. Her cause is being helped by designer Anne Klein, who has been busily working on a new outfit for Acuff to wear in Eugene .
Greatest Success: Second place, 1999 U.S. Indoor Nationals; Tied for Second, 1998 Goodwill Games; Gold Medalist, 1997 World University Games.
Quote/Unquote: "[This] is a big year for high jumpers....I'm going to be bold....I want to jump 6' 8"."
Cool Fact: With her degree in biology from UCLA in hand, Acuff plans on entering medical school after she completes her career as a high jumper.
Come back soon for a new women's sports Spotlight.
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