July 10, 2004
Living another day. That’s what South Carolina junior Lashinda Demus can say tonight after winning her heat of the 400m hurdles at the US Olympic Team Trials. Demus advances to tomorrow night’s finals with the top time of the day – a personal best at 53.70. Her time is the third fastest time in the world this year.
The final is at 7:14 pm (EST) and the top three will advance to the 2004 Athens Olympic Games. She is the second straight USC junior vying for an Olympic bid as then-junior Terrence Trammell won a silver medal in the 110m hurdles at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
“I praise God. I didn’t expect to go that fast today. I slowed down at the end to try to save some for tomorrow,” said Demus. “I looked back a little bit to see if I could relax and saw I could. I am nervous before every start but I had to calm myself down today because I was really nervous. I got out so I wouldn’t get left behind like at nationals. Coach Frye told me to get out.
“My chest isn’t burning like y’day,” said Demus. (to get ready for tomorrow what will you do?): Eat and sleep. That time is a PR for me and that gives me more confidence going into tomorrow’s final. That was a good race for me.”
“She managed her race. She didn’t over run the front side of the race. She followed instructions, she ran the curve and coming home she had to shift so she did it on the right leg,” said USC Head Coach Curtis Frye – an assistant coach with the USA Women’s team. “Those kind of things are hard to think when you are so fatigued but she is so fit so she was able to manage the race. It’s the hardest race in track and field. I think she has a good shot tomorrow but she has to execute and not get excited and be something more. Top three goes to the Olympics. If you finish third tomorrow you are an Olympian.”
Last night Demus ran in the first heat, finishing at 55.14 – winning her heat. She was the NCAA runner-up last month, finishing in 54.40 to UCLA’s Sheena Johnson (also a heat winner today). Demus also ran a leg of the 4x400m relay that finished as the runner-up as well.
Dutch Fork HS and USC graduate Bert Sorin finished 13th in the men’s hammer – throwing 220’00. To make the finals – top 12 – Sorin would have had to throw one foot and 6 inches more – to top Jud Logan.
“I just pushed and I rushed,” said a disappointed Sorin, a four-time All-American with USC who entered with a PR of 237′ 1. “I pushed a little too hard and things kind of broke down. It’s not what I have been working on in practice, it’s not what I wanted. I threw well in the warm-ups, but my legs were a little tight when I started competing.
“I guess I will have a little vacation and then go from there,” said Sorin. “It’s a bittersweet finish for me today. To throw 220′ after the way I have been training, I wouldn’t say bittersweet – I would just say bitter.”
Tacita Bass finished 16th in the heptathlon with 5365 points. Today’s totals included: 18′ 7 1/4 in the long jump, 92′ 9 in the javelin and 2:18.55 in the 800m.
Sunday – the following will compete for USC:
Sunday, July 11, 2004 (all EST) 6:00 pm 400m men quarterfinal Harris 6:30 Long Jump men final Allmond 7:14 400m Hurdles women final Demus
