Sisters run up triple Olympic record

By Philip Delves Broughton

NEW YORK, JULY 25. For the first time in Olympic history, three women from the same family will compete in the same event at the same Games.

At the American national trials, two sisters and a sister-in-law from the Clark family of New Jersey came in first, second and third in the 800 metres, guaranteeing them places at Sydney in September.

The achievement of Hazel Clark, 22, Joetta Clark- Diggs, 37, and their sister-in-law Jearl Miles-Clark, 33, should come as no surprise to anyone who knows Joe Clark, father of Hazel and Joetta.

A famously hard-nosed headmaster, Mr. Clark gained national fame for turning around one of the country's most desperate schools in New Jersey. He became the subject of a Hollywood film, Lean On Me, in which Morgan Freeman played his role. His recipe for success was hard work and so- called tough love, in the classroom and on the games field.

Completing the family affair, all three women are coached by J.J. Clark, Jearl's husband and brother of Hazel and Joetta.

As they considered their historic achievement, the assorted Clarks paid tribute to each other. Hazel said: ``My sister and I are very close, but I just had to go out and run my race.''

For Joetta Clark-Diggs, this was probably her last shot at the Olympics. ``I was not sure I was going to make the team,'' she said. ``My family is very close and as Hazel got older in age, I knew she would be a tough competitor.''

- Copyright, Telegraph Group Ltd., London, 2000

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