Arizona track and field Greg Hansen: Barrett has a higher calling

UA's Brigetta Barrett, who cleared a personal-best 6-8 to win silver at the London Games, hopes to break the U.S. women's record of 6-8 3/4 after setting the NCAA mark of 6-6 1/4.

Arizona track and field Greg Hansen: Barrett has a higher calling

These are the three most unassailable records in UA women's sports history:

2012: The top 10 moments: Silver a golden moment

UA's Brigetta Barrett had a personal best of 6 feet 8 inches to finish second in the high jump before 80,000 fans at Olympic Stadium in London.

2012: The top 10 moments: Silver a golden moment

Arizona junior Shirley Reilly, left, reacts after winning the 2012 Boston Marathon. Reilly also won three medals at the Paralympic Games this year.

2012: The top 10 moments: Silver a golden moment

Anthony Braunreiter, left, and Jake Matthews celebrate Ironwood Ridge's state title. The Nighthawks were the first S. Arizona team in nine years to beat a Phoenix team for a title.

2012: The top 10 moments: Silver a golden moment

Quarterback Matt Scott enjoys the spoils of throwing two TD passes in the last 46 seconds to give UA a bowl win.

2012: The top 10 moments: Silver a golden moment

It's about 5,300 miles from Tucson to London, where, on a Saturday afternoon in August, the best story of Southern Arizona's sports season played out.

Seen and heard at Arizona Stadium

Wilma

Hansen's Sunday Notebook: Bahamas series showed UA's big 3 were a catch

Brandon Ashley, in black at the McDonald's All-American basketball game in March, made 12 of 13 shots from the field in the UA's series in the Bahamas.

Hansen's Sunday Notebook: Bahamas series showed UA's big 3 were a catch

UA senior Brigetta Barrett claimed a silver medal in London. Could a a gold medal and a world record be in her future?

Hansen's Sunday Notebook: Bahamas series showed UA's big 3 were a catch

UA point guard Mark Lyons, a transfer from Xavier, drained eight of his 12 three-point shots in the Bahamas.

Hansen's Sunday Notebook: Bahamas series showed UA's big 3 were a catch

Although the quality of competition was strained, Arizona's two-game basketball series in the Bahamas revealed that the recruiting polls were correct: UA freshmen big men Kaleb Tarczewski, Brandon Ashley and Grant Jerrett can fill up a box score.

Athletes with local ties have a solid showing of medals

Matt Grevers, left, and USA teammate Nick Thoman, both with Tucson ties, finished first and second in the 100-meter backstroke final.

Athletes with local ties have a solid showing of medals

High-jumper Brigetta Barrett, a University of Arizona theater major, cleared 6 feet, 8 inches, winning an Olympic silver medal.

Athletes with local ties have a solid showing of medals

Georganne Moline, a UA senior, set a personal best in the 400-meter hurdles during track events at the London Games. She finished about a half-second off the bronze.

Athletes with local ties have a solid showing of medals

Above: Caitlin Leverenz, facing, embraces the United States' Arian Kukors after winning bronze in the 200-meter individual medley final. Leverenz is a Sahuaro High grad.

Athletes with local ties have a solid showing of medals

Left: Bernard Lagat, a Tucson resident, left, and Britain's Mohamed Farah competed in the men's 5,000-meter final at the London Olympics. Lagat finished fourth, just off the bronze, after he was tripped in the final stretch.

Athletes with local ties have a solid showing of medals

The 23 Olympic athletes with Southern Arizona ties produced nine medals by the time closing ceremonies ended the London Games on Sunday.

London Olympics: Track & field: Finding the needed lift

With a jump of 6 feet 8 inches on Saturday, UA senior Brigetta Barrett became the first Wildcat to medal at an Olympics in track and field since 1992.

London Olympics: Track & field: Finding the needed lift

LONDON - Brigetta Barrett worried that if a moment came like Saturday, when she medaled in high jump at the Olympics, her mother might not be there to share it with her.