Four Hurricanes Moving On at U.S. Olympic Team Trials
June 28, 2012
EUGENE, Ore. – Highlighted by an overall fifth-place finish by Dominique Darden, four current and former University of Miami track stars advanced to the semifinals of their event on Thursday at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials at the University of Oregon. Darden, T’Erea Brown and Thandi Stewart all moved on in the 400m hurdles, while Lauryn Williams qualified in the 200m dash.
The 400m hurdles trio will next run in the semifinals on Friday at 6:20 p.m. (EST) with hopes of moving to the finals of the event. Williams will compete in ensuing round of the 200m just prior at 6 p.m. (EST).
Darden, who is the most decorated All-American in UM history with 15 honors achieved throughout her collegiate career, ran a 56.07 to finish fifth overall out of heat one, the fastest group of the night. Stewart also ran in the heat, setting a personal best (56.34). Her previous best time was set at the NCAA Championships earlier this month on the way to All-America status.
Brown won heat four with a 56.25 mark to finish sixth amongst the 28 competitors. Having been named ACC Women’s Track Performer of the Year in 2011, she won the title in the 400m hurdles at the NCAA Championships and U.S. Championships that year.
In the 200m dash, Williams placed third (23.20) in heat five to make it to the semifinals. She finished sixth in the finals of the 100m dash earlier in the Trials and is in consideration for the relay team that will compete in London at the Olympic Games. The quartet will be announced in the coming days.
Recently graduated All-American Devon Hill will also run on Friday in his debut at the Trials in the 110m hurdles. He will compete in heat four in the event, which will start at 7:05 p.m. (EST).
Fans will be able to watch all five UM competitors on NBC Sports Network’s coverage of the meet.
Click here to read the full Miami preview and here for the official website of the meet.
Follow Miami track & field on twitter (@MiamiTrack) for the latest news and information on the program.
