FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

May 28, 2007             

Contact: Fred Baer      

Phone: 650-345-4114             

Erin Aldrich at the Pacific Association Track & Field Championships, May 27; photo by Bridget Michelsen

BESTING THE BAY, THE BRIDGE, AND THE BAR FOR AMERICA’S SECOND BEST HIGH JUMP OF 2007:

Erin Aldrich demonstrated over the Memorial Day weekend that she is serious about challenging for berths on the USA’s 2007 World Championship and 2008 Olympic Teams.  She defeated 3-time Olympian Amy Acuff and produced America’s second best high jump of the year, 6 feet, 3 1/2 inches (1.92 meters) at USA Track & Field’s Pacific Association Championship Grand Prix Meet at picturesque College of San Mateo.  

[Aldrich appears to be scaling San Francisco Bay and the San Mateo Bridge, in the background, as she made a successful return to competition after a two-year layoff from the sport.]

Earlier this month she finished play in the women’s professional volleyball league in Italy.

Only current Texas Longhorn Destinee Hooker is ahead of Aldrich on the 2007 U.S. list, just a centimeter better (at 6-4 / 1.93m).  Aldrich is a 2000 Texas grad, where John Rambao coached her to two NCAA crowns.  (He is currently coaching at Stanford and still serves as personal coach for Aldrich.)   She has just relocated to San Diego.         

 Hooker ranks No. 9 on the 2007 world list and Aldrich No. 10. 

 At the 2004 U.S. Olympic Trials, Aldrich finished fourth (as the alternate), just behind Acuff, who  went on to place fourth in a close gold medal competition at the Athens Olympic Games.

In 2005, Aldrich equaled her outdoor best of 6-4 3/4 (1.95m) and was a member of the USA’s World Championship team in Helsinki.