SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Former Longhorn NCAA champion Raasin McIntosh (Houston, Texas), who just completed her eligibility at Texas this past season, finished with a season-best time of 55.00 in the semifinals in the 400-meter hurdles on Saturday at the U.S. Olympic Track Team Trials at the Alex G. Spanos Sports Complex. McIntosh, the defending U.S. champion in the 400m hurdles, is one of eight qualifiers for Sunday's final, which can be seen live on NBC at approximately 6:14 p.m. (CST). Rising sophomore Marshevet Hooker (San Antonio, Texas) crossed the line in the semifinals in the 100 meters with a time of 11.38, but failed to place among the top eight qualifiers to advance to the finals later in the day.
McIntosh, who qualified fifth overall, finished third in the first of two heats behind Lashinda Demus (53.70) of South Carolina and Brenda Taylor (54.83). Sandra Glover, a four-time U.S. champion in the 400m hurdles, posted the fastest qualifying time in the second heat at 53.78. At last year's championships, McIntosh surprised for the national crown as she clocked 54.62 to outlast Joanna Hayes (54.76) and Glover (55.12) in a tight finish.
In the semifinals in the 100m, Hooker was in the first of two heats along with two-time Olympic gold medalist Gail Devers, 2003 world champion Torri Edwards and reigning NCAA champion Lauryn Williams. Battling a slight headwind at 0.1 meters-per-second, Hooker finished in 11.38. In Friday's quarterfinals, Hooker recorded a time of 11.41 to advance. Lakeisha Backus (Long Beach, Calif.), who closed out her career at UT in 1999, also failed to make the finals with a mark of 11.52 in the semis.
Former Texas national champion Erin Aldrich (Dallas, Texas) had a solid first day of competition as she cleared both her qualifying heights in the high jump to make the finals, which take place on Monday, July 12. Aldrich, who made the U.S. Olympic Team for the 2000 Sydney Games, was one of eight competitors in the field to top 5-10.50 (1.79m) and 5-11.50 (1.82m) on the first attempt on her way to advancing to the finals for a second consecutive Trials.
A pair of former Longhorns will have the chance to make their Olympic dreams come true on Sunday, July 11. Jason Ward (Paducah, Ky.) competes in the finals in the men's long jump at 5:30 p.m. (CST), followed by McIntosh in the finals in the 400m hurdles at 6:14 p.m. (CST). NBC will carry one hour of live TV coverage on Sunday from 6-7 p.m. (CST).
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