Queen Claye facts for kids
Harrison at the 2011 Bislett Games
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| Birth name | Queen Quedith Harrison | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | September 10, 1988 Loch Sheldrake, New York, U.S. |
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| Height | 5 ft 7 in | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 130 lb | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Spouse(s) | Will Claye | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Track and field | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Event(s) | 100 metres hurdles | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| College team | Virginia Tech | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Coached by | Lawrence Johnson | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Achievements and titles | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal best(s) |
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Medal record
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| Updated on 11 October 2024. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Queen Quedith Claye (born Harrison on September 10, 1988) is an American athlete famous for her speed in hurdling and sprinting. She competed in the 400 metres hurdles at the 2008 Summer Olympics.
During her time at Virginia Tech, she was a star athlete. She was named an All-American six times and was later added to the university's sports hall of fame. Queen also helps organize a track and field event for high school students in Richmond, Virginia.
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A Star Athlete's Journey
Queen Harrison was born in Loch Sheldrake, New York, and grew up in Richmond, Virginia. In high school, she was a talented athlete who competed in many events. These included hurdling, the long jump, and the triple jump.
Success in College
After high school, Queen attended Virginia Tech, where she became a track and field superstar. In 2010, she made history at the NCAA Outdoor Championships. She became the first woman ever to win both the 100-meter and 400-meter hurdles at the same championship.
This was not her only big win. She also won the 60-meter hurdle title at the 2009 NCAA Indoor Championships. In total, she won three national titles while at Virginia Tech. She also set a new record in the 400-meter hurdles for the ACC.
Competing for Team USA
In 2008, Queen's hard work paid off when she earned a spot on the U.S. Olympic team. She placed second in the 400-meter hurdles at the U.S. Olympic Trials. This made her the first track and field athlete from Virginia Tech to ever compete in the Olympics. At the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, she reached the semifinals.
In 2010, she received The Bowerman award, which is like the Heisman Trophy for college track and field athletes. It is given to the best male and female athlete of the year.
Focusing on a New Challenge
For many years, Queen focused on the 400-meter hurdles. But after 2012, she decided to switch to the shorter 100 metres hurdles. This change was a great success.
In 2013, she finished second at the U.S. Championships with a personal best time of 12.43 seconds. This amazing time qualified her for the 2013 World Championships, where she finished fifth in the world.
In 2015, she won a gold medal in the 100-meter hurdles at the Pan American Games. She continued to compete at a high level, narrowly missing a spot on the 2016 Olympic team.
Personal Life
Queen Harrison was born to parents William Harrison and Alicia Wingate. She has many siblings with unique names, including Goldin, Victory, King Master, and Princess.
In 2018, Queen married Will Claye, who is also a famous American track and field athlete. Will proposed to her in a very memorable way. Right after he won a silver medal in the triple jump at the 2016 Rio Olympics, he went into the stands and asked her to marry him.
