Joanna Hayes was born December 23, 1976 in Williamsport, Pa. and moved to Riverside, Ca. in 1981 at 4 years of age. Her father’s activism on the behalf of homeless people led to her being raised primarily by her mother who shared his activism, as well as the love of teaching.
Joanna graduated from UCLA in 2001 with a Bachelors degree in Sociology. She has a strong passion for athletics and participated in sports such as basketball, soccer, and track and field, with track and field becoming her true passion.
Joanna was a State, National, and Jr. Pan Am Champion in high school as well as Gatorade and Track and Field News National Athlete of the Year in 1995 with best times of 13.38/13.06w 100 H and 40.81 300H. Ms. Hayes was a 7-time PAC 10 Champion a 6-time All-American and NCAA champion while at UCLA. She was a 9-time member of the USA National Team, winning gold and silver medals at the Pan Am Games and at the World University Games respectively. Her most coveted title came in 2004, winning at the Olympic Games and setting an Olympic record in the 100 meter Hurdles with a time of 12.37 breaking the current world record holder Yordanka Donkova’s Olympic record of 12.38.
One of her life goals has been to see her passion for youth, athletics, and education come together in the form of a foundation.
The Joanna Hayes Foundation Fund at the Community Foundation was formed to help
broaden the horizons of children living in challenging situations to prepare them for new, realistic and hopeful futures.
In partnership with The Community Foundation and the YWCA of Riverside County, Joanna Hayes launched her inaugural program, 10 Hurdles to Success, at North High School, her alma mater, on March 2, 2010.
The purpose of the Joanna Hayes Foundation Fund is to provide support for programs and services that work to develop the whole child. In so doing, all efforts will target and be committed to growing the children with healthy minds, bodies, and spirits through educational programs, developmental activities, and active community engagement opportunities.
Since 2008, she has been a track & field coach at Harvard-Westlake High School in North Hollywood, CA and in 2003 coached at the Brentwood, CA Middle School. Joanna is a certified personal trainer and personal coach working with youth and adults in the Los Angeles and surrounding areas.
Joanna is on USA Track & Field’s Athletes Advisory Counsel and a member of the United States Olympic Committee’s Athletes Advisory Counsel.
Hayes is an aspiring sports broadcaster, with expertise in track & field analyst commentary. With Fox Sports, she was an analyst at the recent Pac-10 T & F Championships in May. Last year she was the host of a live daily talk show from the IAAF World Championships in Berlin, Germany. For the last two years, she’s been the in-stadium emcee at the USA Track & Field Indoor Championships and for the last three years, she’s been the emcee at the USA Track & Field “Win with Integrity” Program. She is also a motivational speaker speaking to youth around the country.
