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When she was 8 years old and watching the Olympics on television, Virginia "Ginnie" Powell used to boast to anyone who would listen that she would have her chance to compete against the world's best.
Powell had the Rainier Valley track community abuzz as early as elementary school. Powell was nearly unbeatable in her age class in any track event.
"I was dominant from the time I started running," Powell said. "I really hated to lose."
She is just as dominant today. Powell, a USC graduate, holds the NCAA record of 12.48 seconds in the 100-meter hurdles and is the reigning U.S. outdoor champion in the event. She's on track to fulfill her grade-school prophecy by reaching the 2008 Olympics.
For her efforts over the past year, Powell has been selected as one of 10 P-I Sports Star of the Year award winners. A top male and female athlete will be selected Jan. 24 during the awards dinner at the Sheraton Seattle Hotel.
Growing up, there was little doubt about her natural speed, but Powell also was gifted in the hurdles. She had two U.S. track icons to emulate -- Florence Griffith-Joyner and Gail Devers.
At Rainier Beach High School, she became only the third girl in any classification to capture four consecutive state titles in the 100 hurdles. She holds the state records in the 100 hurdles at 13.39 seconds and the 300 hurdles at 42.14 for all classifications.
On Jan. 24, Rainier Beach will honor Powell and retire her jersey.
Her collegiate résumé includes winning the Pac-10 100-meters title in 2004 and 2005, winning the NCAA 100-meter hurdles in 2005 and 2006, and receiving the 2006 Honda Award as the outstanding college athlete in her sport.
Two weeks after graduating from USC, she signed a seven-year endorsement deal with Nike and hopes to continue competing until 2012.
She plans on earning a master's degree in business management, but she has a few other goals that will come first, including the American (12.32) and world (12.22) records in the 100 hurdles, as well as competing at the 2008 Olympics.
Just like when she was 8, her confidence is unflappable.
"I don't know if I'm the U.S. Olympic favorite, but I'm up there," she said.
"Depending on who you ask, it's safe to say I'm in the top three, but I expect to be No. 1."
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