July 18, 2004
On the final day of the US Olympic Track and Field Trials, USC saw three hurdlers with ties to the Gamecocks make the US Olympic team – including USC alum Terrence Trammell who won his first US title by capturing the 110m hurdles crown. USC volunteer coaches Allen Johnson (110m hurdles) and Melissa Morrison (100m hurdles) both captured bronze medals in making the US Olympic team.
“There’s something said for maturity – with Allen and Melissa. There’s something to be said for fighting with your heart. It isn’t always a clean race but it’s the person who gets over the most hurdles,” said USC Head Coach Curtis Frye, also an assistant coach with the USA Olympic team (coaching sprints and relays). “The biggest thing today is that Allen Johnson made the Olympic team, Melissa Morrison made the Olympic team and USC alum Terrence Trammell won his first national title and made the Olympic team. Terrence has done a great job. Allen and Melissa’s perseverance – coming to practice every day and being the kind of people that people want to be – it’s wonderful. I hate for Ron Bramlett because he got so close.
“Allen is so good, that is the worst race he’s ever run in a championship but he still has another shot at the Olympic games,” said Frye. “I take my hat off to Terrence. Terrence is developing into the kind of hurdler we knew he would always be and he will be a factor in the Olympic games. All three of them will be factors.”
Trammell ran a personal best 13.09 in the finals to win the 110m hurdles title. He blasted out of the blocks, with second place finisher Duane Ross trailing close behind and Allen Johnson noticeably behind the two frontrunners. Trammell powered ahead in an error-free race to win the title in the third fastest time in the world this year. Johnson has the world’s fastest time at 13.05.
“It’s a blessing to win my first national championship,” said Trammell. “I was healthy at the right time. My goal for the trials was to focus on my own lane, my race and be comfortable and confident in what I had practiced.”
Trammell ran a 13.14 – a then-personal best – in win his heat of the semi-finals. Trammell, who graduated from USC in 2003, now trains in Atlanta.
“I am just thankful, I give all the glory to God,” said Trammell. “I am grateful I was able to be healthy at the right time and get myself together. I am looking forward to running in Athens now.”
Johnson clocked a 13.25 to win the bronze medal and make his third straight Oiympic team. Johnson won the gold medal at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics and was fourth at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
“I’ve had a great year, I just didn’t have my best race today. I don’t know what happened. I felt good coming out of the blocks but I hit a hurdle and hit a couple more. I thought I was out of it and said stop for a second – you need to finish top three,” said Johnson. “I am happy to make the Olympic team and try to get my second Olympic medal.”
Johnson ran a 13.17 to win his heat in the semi-finals and advance to the finals. Johnson has run 13.05 for the fastest time in the world this year. Johnson has trained in USC, living in Irmo, for the past eight years.
Morrison won the bronze medal, with Gail Devers and Joanna Hayes going 1-2. Morrison’s time of 12.61 was a season-best. It is her second straight Olympic team.
“The first half of my race was really decent,” said Morrison, an App. State graduate. “But then when I got to hurdle seven, Joanne (Hayes) and I bumped arms and I thought ‘Oh my God this can’t be happening’. I am literally the smallest hurdler in the world and I thought I was going down. I gave it a lot of fight today and I was determined to be in the top three. I made up my mind I didn’t have to win this race today if I made it in the top three I knew I was going to Athens. I just glory to God I am just so happy.”
Morrison ran a 12.67 to win her heat in the semi-finals. She enters the finals with the second best time. Morrison won the bronze medal at the 2000 Sydney Olympics and has trained in Columbia the past six years.
Johnson’s training partner in Columbia, Alabama alum Ron Bramlett finished fourth at 13.33.
Bramlett ran a 13.28 to finish third in the same semi-finals as Johnson, his training partner. Bramlett, an Alabama alum and a former NCAA champion, came to Columbia to train with Johnson under Coach Frye.
