July 12, 2004
Today’s theme at the US Olympic Trials was ADVANCE. Run whatever it takes, throw whatever you can. Four of USC’s former athletes did just that as Otis Harris advanced to the finals of the 400m, Lisa Barber and Demetria Washington both advanced to the semi-finals of the 400m and Dawn Ellerbe advanced to the finals of the hammer.
“What a great day for USC. I was sorry to see Miki Barber go down in her race though. She has been one of the cornerstones of our program,” said USC Head Coach Curtis Frye.
Harris was fourth in the first heat of the semi-finals of the 400m and advanced to the finals with a time of 45.13. It is his first time to the finals of the US championships
” I just got out. They went fast and I had to as well. I kind of got fatigued on the second curve but I came home strong and was able to make it back to the finals. I knew I wasn’t in the lead and I knew I needed to get back in it,” said Harris. “Time really doesn’t matter. What matters is to win titles and you win then times are going to come. You can’t worry about times. God blessed me to get here and so I will do what I have done in every race and run like he brought me up to run – to win.”
Ellerbe, who finished seventh at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, was the last qualifier into the hammer finals – besting Maureen Griffin for the 12th spot by two inches. Ellerbe threw 202′ 9 and had to sweat out the second flight to find out she made it the finals.
“I was in drug testing during the final round and I was sweating out because it wasn’t like I had a huge throw – it was a throw anyone was capable of throwing so I am very thankful,” said Ellerbe, a native of Central Islip, NY and a five-time US champion. “I will take a little rest this evening and then trust what I have been doing all along. I might have gotten a little bit ahead of myself this afternoon and hopefully in the finals I can just settle down and work on my technique. When you go to the finals your object is to throw to win. When you go into a qualifier you are thinking – maybe all I have to is qualify and maybe everything drops a little bit.”
Washington, the school record holder with 22 All-American honors, won her heat in the 400m with a time of 52.13 – a season best as she has been battling a slight stress fracture in her left leg. Washington and L. Barber were both on the USA’s 4x400m relay team that won a gold medal at the 2003 World Championships in Paris.
“I am glad that’s over. I wanted to execute my race plan and advance to the semi-finals and I did that. I like the outside lane, it makes me get out in run. I just wanted to get back and run again,” said Washington, a native of Fayetteville, NC. “All I was worried about was getting to the semi-finals and I feel much better. I am sorry Miki pulled up she is my training partner and I hope she will be alright.”
L. Barber was fifth in her heat but advanced on time, also running at season best at 52.30. Her twin sister Miki, a 2000 Sydney Olympian, didn’t fare as well as she pulled up at the 200m mark with a hamstring.
“I am very pleased to make the semis. That was my main goal to advance to the semi-finals,” said Lisa Barber, a native of Montclair, NJ. “I felt strong in the prelims but I might have gone out too hard and couldn’t finish as well as I wanted to. For the next round I will go out smooth and then try to take it home. This gives me a lot of confidence to know my speed is there and that once I get my race together I can run a magnificent time.”
Former USC volunteer coach and Columbia native Monique Hennagan, who now trains in Atlanta with Pauline Davis-Thompson, won her heat with a personal best of 50.31 to also advance to the semi-finals.
“I have waited for this race all month! I am going for it all the way. I am going for the win here at nationals and worry about the time later,” said Hennagan. “I want a national championship. Everyone is running really well and that has helped everyone step up.”
