Richards-Ross wins Trials 400m dash, earns place on third Olympic Team
June 24, 2012
EUGENE, Ore. -- Sanya-Richards Ross matched the Olympic Trials meet record in the 400m and also recorded the fastest time in the world in 2012 en route to her third U.S. Olympic Team berth on Sunday at Hayward Stadium. Richards-Ross crossed the finish line in 49.28, more than half a second before second-place Dee Dee Trotter, assuring that she will represent the United States in her third-straight Olympics. "Today was phenomenal," Richards-Ross said. "All I kept thinking about the last 40 meters was that I'm going to have a chance to go back to my third Olympic Games and represent Team USA. You think about the Olympics for four years but you can't really think about it until you get past this moment right here and so to finally have done that and really be able to focus on the Olympics is a dream come true." Francena McCorory, who had run the fastest time through the two preliminary rounds, blazed through the first 200 meters into the lead, but Richards-Ross maintained a competitive position in the fifth lane and turned it on in the final 100 meters to win in decisive fashion. "I wanted to really turn it on at 120 (meters to go). Francena made it really tough, she got out really fast today, but I knew that if I stayed in my race that I would be able to run in the 49 (seconds) range. So when I got to 120 I really tried to turn it on and finish really strongly. That was a part of the plan and I'm just happy that it worked." Richards-Ross will attempt to qualify for the Olympics for Team USA in two events when she competes in the 200m next week. Preliminaries begin Thursday, June 28 at 6:45 p.m. Results: Saturday, June 23 Texas Longhorns at the 2012 London Olympics Name Country Event(s)
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