July 7, 2004
The US Olympic Trials begin on Friday with a bang for USC’s Gamecock contingent with NCAA runner-ups Lashinda Demus and Tony Allmond competing in the opening round of the 400m hurdles and the long jump respectively. With USC Head Coach Curtis Frye’s ticket already punched for the 2004 Athens Olympics as an assistant coach with the USA women’s team, the University of South Carolina will send 13 competitors – four USC athletes, seven post-graduates (all of which have their degrees from USC) and two volunteer coaches to the USA Olympic Track and Field Trials in Sacramento, Calif., beginning Friday, July 9 and running through Sunday, July 18. Check local television listings as a majority of the meet will be televised. The 2004 Athens Olympic Games are in Athens, Greece August 13-29 – with track and field events running August 20-29. The top three in each event at the trials will qualify for an Olympic berth. The top three will also have to meet the Olympic ‘A’ standard in their event to qualify. In addition, USATF will also select additional athletes for the 4x100m and 4x400m relays. NCAA runner-ups Lashinda Demus (400m hurdles) and Tony Allmond (long jump) will highlight USC’s list of athletes. Former NCAA champions Dawn Ellerbe, Lisa Barber, Miki Barber and Demetria Washington highlight USC’s former contingent on the women’s side, while 2000 Sydney silver medalist Terrence Trammell will highlight USC’s efforts on the men’s post-graduate side with Trammelll training in Atlanta under his former high school coach currently. Not to be left out are USC’s volunteer coaches – Allen Johnson and Melissa Morrison. Johnson won the gold medal with an Olympic record at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games in the 110m hurdles, while Morrison won the bronze in the 100m hurdles at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games.
