Three Former Track Stars Heading To Athens

July 20, 2004

Coral Gables, Fla. (hurricanesports.com) – Three former University of Miami track and field athletes have qualified for the 2004 Olympic Games to be held August 20-29 in Athens, Greece.

Lauryn Williams will be making her first trip to the Olympics after qualifying for the United States team with a third-place finish in the 100-meters at the USA Olympic Track and Field Trials in Sacramento, Calif.

Williams, who turned professional shortly after the trials, won the 2004 NCAA National title in the 100-meters and currently has the second fastest time in the world in the event this season (10.97).

Making return visits to the Olympics will be former Hurricane greats Davian Clarke and Patrina Allen.

Clarke will be making his third consecutive trip to the Olympics as member of the Jamaican team. He ranks ninth in the world in the 400-meters and will compete as a member of the Jamaican 4×400-meter relay.

Earlier this season Clarke captured the silver medal in the 400-meters and anchored the Jamaican 4×400-meter relay to the gold medal at the 2004 World Indoor Championships.Clarke, who won two NCAA National Titles in the 400-meters while at Miami from 1995-98, anchored Jamaica to the bronze medal in the 4×400-meter relay at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta.

Allen will be making her second consecutive trip to the Olympics competing in the 400-meter hurdles for Jamaica. She qualified for the Jamaican Olympic team with a second-place finish at the Jamaican Athletic Association Trials. Allen was a six-time All-American at the University of Miami from 1995-98 and currently ranks 30th in the world in the 400-meter hurdles.