July 9, 2003

USC Volunteer Assistant Track Coach Allen Johnson was named USA Track & Field’s Athlete of the Week following his world-leading performance last Friday at the Gaz de France IAAF Golden League meet in Paris.

Johnson, the 1996 Olympic 110m hurdles gold medallist, posted a time of 12.97 to top his previous world-leading time of 13.06 set July 1 in Switzerland. The mark was his fastest since running a 12.97 at the 2000 U.S. Olympic Trials. With his recent performance, Johnson has ascended to the top of the IAAF World Rankings in the 110m hurdles.

Terrence Trammell, also a volunteer assistant coach for USC’s track team, was the Feb. 18 recipient of the weekly national honor.

Four Athletes With USC Ties Named To Team USA’s World Championships Roster

Team USA will have garnet and black representation at the 2003 World Championships next month in Paris as four athletes with USC ties were named to the squad.

Volunteer assistant coaches Allen Johnson and Terrence Trammell will compete in the 110m hurdles for the Red, White and Blue. Johnson was crowned 2003 U.S. Champion in the event last month in Palo Alto, Calif., edging Trammell, a USC alumnus, for the title.

On the women’s side, USC alum and current volunteer assistant coach Dawn Ellerbe will compete in the hammer throw after a third-place finish at the U.S. Championships in June. Gamecock alum and 2003 U.S. Championships runner-up Demetria Washington will compete in the 400m dash.

The quartet earned spots on Team USA after top-three event finishes at June’s U.S. Championships qualified them for Paris.

USC Women’s Track Signee Wins National Youth Championship

Ronetta Alexander, a USC women’s track signee, won the young women’s 100m hurdles title with a time of 13.60 at last weekend’s USA Track & Field Youth Championships in Amherst, N.Y.

The New York native holds her state’s indoor 60m hurdles record with a time of 8.33 seconds and is the 2003 state 55m and 100m hurdles champion.