TYRA GITTENS QUALIFIES FOR TOKYO OLYMPICS
07/14/2021
Tyra Gittens, a multi-event athlete, will be representing Trinidad and Tobago at this year's 2020 Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo. Gittens is an AAU Track and Field alum for Precision Track Club out of Nashville, Tennessee. During her time, Gittens won gold in the Women's Heptathlon at the AAU Junior Olympics in 2016.
Nashville— Tuesday, July 7, 2021 — Texas A&M Aggie, 2017 Ensworth School graduate and Precision Track Club athlete, Tyra Gittens, is heading to the Tokyo Olympics. Gittens attained the Olympic standard in the long jump at the 2021 SEC Outdoor Track & Field Championships while competing in the Heptathlon with a leap that was 6.96 meters (22’ 10”), which is better than the 6.82 meters (22’5”) qualifying standard.
Tyra is the current NCAA titleholder in the Pentathlon and Heptathlon. Her first place finishes also earned her the 2021 NCAA National Field Athlete of the Year award. Her latest victory came when she scored 6,285 total points in the Heptathlon at the NCAA Outdoor Track Finals at Hayward Field at the University of Oregon in Eugene. She holds the collegiate record in the Pentathlon with 4,746 total points and has the 3rd best score in collegiate history in the Heptathlon with 6,418 total points. The event includes 100m hurdles, high jump, shot put, the 200m, long jump, javelin throw, and the 800m.
While at Ensworth, Gittens senior season included winning TSSAA State titles in high jump (5-9), long jump (20-1 ¾), 100 hurdles (14.20), 200m (24.92), and pentathlon (4,153). Her career collection of Tennessee outdoor state titles totaled 17 gold medals over four years.
Character and hard work prevail
Jan Pippin, Gittens’s track coach during her middle and high school years, is the director of Precision Track Club in Nashville. Pippin has been a confidant and support to Gittens over the past 10 years. “I love that she’s open about her joy and her mishaps,” says Pippin. “I am thrilled that she’s going to the Olympics. Not surprised but thrilled!” Pippin is proud of who Tyra is, stating that she is genuine, honest, loving, and humble.
Gittens is elated to be going to the Olympics where she will be competing for her home country of Trinidad and Tobago. She ready to compete and ready to leave her legacy. The international multi-sport event is scheduled to take place from 23 July to 8 August 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. The Olympics were scheduled for 2020. However, due to the coronavirus pandemic, the games were postponed for the very first time in its history.
Tyra is the current NCAA titleholder in the Pentathlon and Heptathlon. Her first place finishes also earned her the 2021 NCAA National Field Athlete of the Year award. Her latest victory came when she scored 6,285 total points in the Heptathlon at the NCAA Outdoor Track Finals at Hayward Field at the University of Oregon in Eugene. She holds the collegiate record in the Pentathlon with 4,746 total points and has the 3rd best score in collegiate history in the Heptathlon with 6,418 total points. The event includes 100m hurdles, high jump, shot put, the 200m, long jump, javelin throw, and the 800m.
While at Ensworth, Gittens senior season included winning TSSAA State titles in high jump (5-9), long jump (20-1 ¾), 100 hurdles (14.20), 200m (24.92), and pentathlon (4,153). Her career collection of Tennessee outdoor state titles totaled 17 gold medals over four years.
Character and hard work prevail
Jan Pippin, Gittens’s track coach during her middle and high school years, is the director of Precision Track Club in Nashville. Pippin has been a confidant and support to Gittens over the past 10 years. “I love that she’s open about her joy and her mishaps,” says Pippin. “I am thrilled that she’s going to the Olympics. Not surprised but thrilled!” Pippin is proud of who Tyra is, stating that she is genuine, honest, loving, and humble.
Gittens is elated to be going to the Olympics where she will be competing for her home country of Trinidad and Tobago. She ready to compete and ready to leave her legacy. The international multi-sport event is scheduled to take place from 23 July to 8 August 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. The Olympics were scheduled for 2020. However, due to the coronavirus pandemic, the games were postponed for the very first time in its history.
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