Richards-Ross moves on to finals in Women's 400m dash
June 23, 2012 EUGENE, Ore. – On the second day of the 2012 U.S. Olympic Track & Field Trials, Sanya Richards-Ross earned her place in the Women’s 400m dash finals after finishing first in her heat for the second-straight preliminary race. Richards-Ross raced in the 400m semifinals after qualifying third overall in the prelims yesterday. She improved upon her preliminary time, crossing the finish line in 50.81, and will be seeded second overall for Sunday’s event final behind Francena McCorory, who placed first in the second heat in 50.55. “Coach Hart wanted me to run the first 300 meters hard and if I could, cruise it in,” Richards-Ross said. “I did that and was able to come in easy, so I am really happy to be moving on to the next round still feeling so strong.” Former Longhorn Moushaumi Robinson ran a 52.48 and placed 11th overall after qualifying 14th in yesterday’s qualifying rounds. Rounding out the qualifications for the 400m finals are Debbie Dunn, Dee Dee Trotter, Natasha Hastings, Diamond Dixon, Jessica Beard and Keshia Baker. Former Longhorns Alexandria Anderson and Bianca Knight competed in the 100m finals after earning fifth and sixth seeds following the two qualifying rounds. In the event semifinals earlier in the day, Anderson edged Knight in the second heat by one hundredth of a second with the two finishing in 11.12 and 11.13. Knight finished in fifth place in the finals with a time of 11.14 while Anderson came in eighth in 11.37. The 100m final race featured a dead-heat finish in a battle for the third and final spot on Team USA between Jeneba Tarmoh and Allyson Felix that was still being sorted out hours after the race’s completion. Richards-Ross will be the lone Longhorn competitor on the women’s side leading up to the athlete rest days Tuesday and Wednesday. She will race in the 400m finals Sunday at 6:35 p.m. Central.
Results: Saturday, June 23 100m Dash (semifinals) 5. Alexandria Anderson (11.12) 6. Bianca Knight (11.13) 400m Dash (semifinals) 100m Dash (finals) Texas Longhorns at the 2012 London Olympics Name Country Event(s) |
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