Heptathlon Star Anna Hall All Business Heading Into Olympic Trials

The University of Florida graduate already possesses the fifth highest heptathlon score in history, and second highest among active athletes, only trailing two-time Olympic champion Nafi Thiam of Belgium. 

Hall scored a staggering 6,988 points at the renowned Hypo Meeting in Götzis, Austria, in May 2023. The 29-year-old Thiam owns a personal best of 7,013, and is one of only four women to surpass the 7,000-point barrier. Jackie Joyner-Kersee’s world record of 7,291 points remains the ultimate benchmark, established at the Olympic Games Seoul 1988.

However, before Hall engages in what has the potential to blossom into an epic showdown with Thiam at the Stade de France in Paris on Aug. 8-9, she’ll have to finish top three among her competitors on June 23-24 in Eugene.

Leading U.S. heptathletes who could pose a threat to Hall include veterans Chari Hawkins, 33, (World No. 12); Michelle Atherley, 28, (World No. 14); Taliyah Brooks, 29, (World No. 16), and Tokyo 2020 Olympian Annie Kunz, 31.

Rising talents Jadin O’Brien, 22, Allie Jones, 23, and Timara Chapman, 24, all have the potential to contend for the coveted top three positions and a ticket to Paris.

Hall and track and field legend Joyner-Kersee are the only two American heptathletes to have won multiple world championship medals. Joyner-Kersee also brought home a pair of heptathlon gold medals from the Olympic Games Seoul 1988 and Olympic Games Barcelona 1992. 

The 23-year-old Hall is obviously flattered when comparisons are made between she and Joyner-Kersee. The rising track star has spoken and consulted with JJK extensively, even receiving advice and added motivation before her world championship silver performance last summer in Budapest.

“It means a ton to be mentioned in the same sentence as her – I’m like I don’t deserve that and I’m not there yet, so it’s still a little bit humbling every time you guys do that,” Hall says, referring to the media.

“I’m super thankful for her and she has been nothing but encouraging and supportive,” Hall says, about the 62-year-old heptathlon icon.

No American woman has won an Olympic heptathlon since Joyner-Kersee went back-to-back in 1988 and 1992, and only one other female athlete, Hyleas Fountain, has medaled in the event, taking silver at Olympic Games Beijing 2008. 

Hall, a self-proclaimed hyper perfectionist, seems poised to shine brightly and end the 16-year U.S. Olympic medal slump on the Stade de France track in Paris.

For starters, she just needs to cleanly execute those pesky 100m hurdles and take care of business in Oregon next week.