Senate Concurrent Resolution 636

(As Adopted by Senate and House)

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING AND SALUTING WORLD OUTDOOR AND WORLD INDOOR GOLD MEDALIST LONG JUMPER BRITTNEY REESE OF GULFPORT, MISSISSIPPI.

WHEREAS, Gulfport's Brittney Reese leaped to the top of the world charts in 2009, dominating the outdoor season and capping it off by taking the Gold Medal at the World Championships with a winning jump measuring 7.10 meters (23 feet, 3-1/2 inches). Reese wasted no time in winning her second World Crown, as her first-round leap of 6.70 (21 feet, 11-3/4 inches) earned her the Gold Medal at the 2010 World Indoor Championships; and

WHEREAS, Brittney Reese's career highlights are as follows:

· USA Championships:

▶ Three-time USA Outdoor Champion: 2009 (7.09m/23-3.25);

2010 (7.08m/23-2.75); 2011 (7.19m/23-7.25);

▶ Two-time USA Indoor Champion: 2009 (6.71m/22-0.25); 2010 (6.89m/22-7.25);

▶ 2012 USA Indoor runner-up (6.86m/22-6.25);

▶ 2008 Olympic Trials Champion (6.95m/22-9.75);

▶ 2007 USA Outdoor runner-up (6.71m/22-0.25);

· International Championships:

On May 24, 2009, in Belém, Reese extended her personal best to 7.06m (0.7m/s wind). This brought her to third on the American All-Time List, behind Marion Jones and Jackie Joyner-Kersee.

At the 2009 World Athletics Championships in Berlin, Reese won the Long Jump Title with a jump of 7.10 meters, beating defending champion Tatyana Lebedeva. Reese is the third youngest champion in the history of the event.

At the 2010 IAAF World Indoor Championships, Reese won the Gold Medal in the long jump with a jump of 6.70 meters.

At the 2011 World Championships in Athletics, Reese successfully retained the Gold Medal in the long jump with a jump of 6.82 meters; and

· Collegiate Championships/Honors:

▶ 2007 NCAA Outdoor Champion (6.50m/21-4);

▶ 2007 SEC Women's Field Athlete of the Year; and

WHEREAS, Reese first demonstrated her promise on the World Stage in 2008. First, she won the U.S. Olympic Trials on her final jump. She then led all qualifiers in Beijing with a first-day jump measuring 6.87 (22 feet, 6-1/2 inches). She couldn't quite match that effort in the final, finishing fifth at 6.76 (22-2); and

WHEREAS, Reese was remarkably consistent in early 2008, winning three events with leaps of 6.93 meters, then extending her personal best to 6.95 (22-9) to win the Olympic Trials. She had the world's top four jumps in 2009, including a personal best at the World Championships; and

WHEREAS, Reese was an outstanding jumper at Gulfport High School in Mississippi, where she earned the 2004 Gatorade "Player of the Year" Award for track and field. She then played basketball and did not participate in track and field at Gulf Coast Community College. Reese returned to the track after transferring to the University of Mississippi, where she competed in the long jump, high jump and triple jump; and

WHEREAS, on November 14, 2001, Reese donated 100 turkeys and her time to various homeless and religious organizations in her community of Gulfport, Mississippi, as her way of "giving back" to the community that has supported her throughout her athletic career. She wanted to make Thanksgiving a little easier in an area where there are few resources for those in need; and

WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we commend the elite sports career of this Mississippi athlete who serves as a Sports Ambassador for her state and who has brought pride to her school, her community and to the State of Mississippi:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby recognize and salute World Outdoor and World Indoor Gold Medalist Long Jumper Brittney Reese of Gulfport, Mississippi, and extend to her and her family our best wishes for continued success.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Brittney Reese and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.