Miriam Barnes

Miriam Barnes (born November 14, 1983) is an American former hurdler and sprinter specializing in the 400 metres and the 2008 World Athletics Indoor Championships bronze medalist in the 4 × 400 m relay. Before she turned professional with Nike, Inc., Barnes was an All American for the Louisiana Tech Lady Techsters track and field team in the relay. Barnes was in 3rd position and nearly became an Olympian at the 2008 United States Olympic trials, but she fell over the final hurdle and was disqualified.

Career As a prep at Harrisburg High School, Barnes finished 4th in the 400 m and 5th in the 300 m hurdles at the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association state championships. She committed to Barton Community College, where she placed 4th in the 400 m at the 2005 NJCAA national championships.

Outdoors, Barnes did not run at the NCAA Championships but was competitive in her first Olympic bid at the 2008 Olympic trials. Entered in the 400 m hurdles, Barnes won her heat and finished 2nd in her semi-final. With only 3 Olympic spots available, Barnes was in 3rd position coming into the last hurdle at the trials final and was expected to make the Olympic team before she fell trying to clear the hurdle, disqualifying her from the race.

Barnes was sponsored by Nike, Inc. and was coached by Shawn Jackson while in college.

+ 400 m Hurdles progression # Mark Competition Venue Date 1 1:00.95 Mississippi State Bulldog Invitational Starkville, MS 2 1:00.55 Louisiana Tech Jim Mize Tech Twilight Ruston, LA 3 59.80 Alumni Gold Baton Rouge, LA 4 57.06 Western Athletic Conference Championships Honolulu, HI 5 56.97 5th Mideast Columbia, MO 6 56.57 Ole Miss Inv Oxford, MS 7 56.23 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships Eugene, OR 8 55.35 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships Eugene, OR