Griffith Joyner Named Top Female Athlete

Sprinter Florence Griffith Joyner, who won three gold medals and one silver medal in the Olympic Games at Seoul and set world records in the 100 and 200 meters, was named the Associated Press’ female athlete of the year Thursday.

Her sister-in-law, heptathlete and long jumper Jackie Joyner-Kersee, won in 1987 but finished third this year.

Griffith Joyner had 78 first-place votes and 549 points in balloting by a national panel of sportswriters and broadcasters

West Germany’s Steffi Graf, winner of the U.S., French and Australian opens, Wimbledon and the Olympic gold medal, was the runner-up with 420 points, including 49 first-place votes.

Janet Evans of Placentia, who won 3 gold medals and set a world record in Olympic swimming, was fourth.