Sept. 1, 2011

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By Miquel Jacobs
Assistant Media Relations Director

DAEGU, South Korea – Former South Carolina Gamecock Lashinda Demus set an American record and ran the third-fastest time in history in the 400-meter hurdles Thursday night to win her first World Outdoor Championships gold medal for Team USA.

Demus’s gold medal in the 400-meter hurdles gives South Carolina affiliated athletes two gold medals at the championships this week after Jason Richardson won the men’s 110-meter hurdles on Sunday. South Carolina head coach Curtis Frye’s protégé’s have won two of USA’s seven gold medals at the championships thus far, and more current and former Gamecocks have still yet to run in their respective finals – including Shalonda Solomon who had the top time in the women’s 200-meter dash semifinal Thursday.

“The gold medal is always my expectation,” Demus said. “I never go into the championship expecting to lose. I’m happy that it came through. Hard work pays off. This gives me the confidence for next year and preparing for the Olympic Games.”

Demus, a four-time NCAA champion at South Carolina, not only captured a gold medal but set an American record in the process with a 52.47 clocking, bettering Kim Batten’s previous American mark of 52.61 set in Goteborg, Sweden in 1995 – the last time Team USA won the world championship in that event. Running out of lane three, Demus looked in control the entire race, accelerating past defending champion Melaine Walker of Jamaica who was timed in 52.73. It was the top performance of the already successful Demus’ career. A former world junior champion and world junior record holder, Demus had previously won World Outdoor silver in 2005 and 2009; she missed 2007 on maternity leave, pregnant with twin boys.

In the women’s 200-meter dash semifinal, Shalonda Solomon continued the winning ways, and bettered Carmelita Jeter’s time by one-hundredth of a second to win the semifinal at 22.46. Solomon, who won the United States title earlier this year, will look to get her first World Outdoor Championships gold medal when she races in the final on Friday night.

QUOTES

Lashinda Demus (Palmdale, Calif.), Women’s 400m Hurdles
“I was really focused on steps and technique, and making sure I had something left over the last 100.”

“I am happy. I am grateful. I want to get home to see my sons; they are twin boys, four years old. “I still have not had a gold medal so this is great. I just saw my mom; she was so happy. It feels so great to bring it home. Watching the twins is more difficult than running the 400m hurdles. Running is my little break for the day. My father and my grandmother have the twins right now. He told me that he wouldn’t be able to sleep, as it’s 5 a.m. in Los Angeles, so I know he’s seen everything by now.”

“This victory means that hard work pays off. I feel like I ran for my mother, the twins, my husband, my father, and for all the people who support me”

Shalonda Solomon (Orlando, Fla.), Women’s 200m
“I’m happy I was able to get through the race and finish. Physically everything is going great. I’ll just check with my coach to make sure my drive will be ready for tomorrow because the ladies will be flying.”