June 29, 2009

EUGENE, Ore. – Sophomore Johnny Dutch earned a bid to the 2009 IAAF World Championships after placing second in the 400m hurdles at the USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships at a personal best time of 48.18. Dutch will be one of six current and former Gamecocks that earned the right to represent Team USA at the championships that will be held August 15-23 in Berlin, Germany.

Dutch shaved almost half a second off his previous personal best to take second and qualify as the only collegian to advance to the World Championships in the event. Dutch, who placed fifth at the U.S. Olympic Trials last year as a freshman to just miss a shot at the Olympic Games, had a consistent weekend with second place finishes in the semis and finals to qualify for Berlin. During the collegiate season, Dutch won the SEC and NCAA East Region titles before taking second at the NCAA Outdoor Championships.

Also advancing to Berlin are former Gamecocks Lashinda Demus and Tiffany Ross-Williams in the women’s 400m hurdles. Demus (2002-04), a 2004 Olympian, set the Hayward Field record in winning Sunday’s final at 53.78. Ross-Williams, the 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials champion in the event, placed third at 55.18.

Terrence Trammell took second in the 110m hurdles to advance to Berlin with a time of 13.12 (13.118), three-thousandths of a second behind David Payne (13.115). Jason Richardson finished fifth at 13.31 in his first competition after exhausting his collegiate eligibility.

Natasha Hastings, Leroy Dixon and Shalonda Solomon will likely travel as members of relay teams after their performances in the open events. Hastings placed fourth in the 400m dash at 50.89, Dixon placed sixth in the men’s 100m dash at 10.10 and Solomon placed sixth in the women’s 100m dash at 11.03.

Other Gamecocks that competed included 100m runners Lakya Brookins (13th in semifinal; 11.23) and Johnathan Hancock (34th in first round; 10.42) and 200m runner Antonio Sales (22nd in first round; 20.80). Shot putter Jason Cook took 19th at 58’10” (17.93m).

Freshman Booker Nunley took second in the 110m hurdles at the U.S. Junior Nationals with a time of 13.36. Also, Radiance Basden placed 12th in the 400m hurdles at 1:02.97, and Stacee Roberts placed 17th in the shot put at 43’7 ¾” (13.30m).