Friday, July 26, 2013

MONMOUTH, Ore. - After sweeping gold in the 100-meter and 400-meter hurdles at the 2012 World Deaf Athletic Championships, former Western Oregon track & field hurdler Janna Vander Meulen has her sights set on gold at the 22nd Summer Deaflympics at Sofia, Bulgaria.

Vander Meulen is slated to represent the United States in four events at the Deaflympics as she will compete in the 100-meter and 400-meter hurdles and will participate on the 4x100-meter relay and 4x400-meter relay squads.

"It is such a tremendous honor to go and represent the United States at the Deaflympics," Vander Meulen said. "I never thought I would get this far in my athletic career and I am so excited for the opportunity. It is going to be the memory of a lifetime and I am excited to get there and run against some great athletes."

The former Wolves standout will open her Deaflympics when she runs in the semifinals of the 400-meter hurdles next Thursday (August 1), at midnight (PDT). Should she advance, she will compete for a medal in the event on Thursday at 9:30 a.m. Vander Meulen is also slated to compete in the 100-meter hurdles, with preliminaries scheduled for Friday, August 2, at 12:10 a.m. with finals to run at 7:50 a.m.

"My goal is to go out and compete as hard as I can; and, hopefully, I will be able to set some new personal records," Vander Meulen said. "It is a great task ahead of me; but, if I can focus on personal records as my goal, I know the results will fall as they may and I would have a good shot at a medal."

She will also represent the USA on a pair of relay teams as the 4x100-meter relay preliminary is scheduled for Saturday, August 3, at 12:00 a.m. followed by the 4x400-meter relay at 1:00 a.m. Finals for the relay events are on Saturday at 8:20 a.m. and 9:50 a.m., respectively.

Vander Meulen is entering the Deaflympics as the defending world champion in the 100-meter and 400-meter hurdles. Last year in Toronto, she swept gold as she captured the 100-meter title with a time of 14.72 after winning the 400-meter event in a time of 1:04.53.

The native of Puyallup, Wash., lettered with the Wolves for four seasons as she completed her eligibility following the 2012 outdoor season. She left Western Oregon as the school record holder in the indoor 60-meter hurdles (9.06) and fourth in the outdoor 100-meter hurdles (14.64). Last season, while completing her bachelor's degree in mathematics, she served as a volunteer assistant coach with the Wolves program.

To follow Vander Meulen and the USA at the 22nd Summer Deaflympics, visit www.sofia2013.com.