July 1, 2012

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By Miquel Jacobs
Assistant Media Relations Director

EUGENE, Ore. – Former Gamecock Lashinda Demus returns to the Olympic Games after winning the women’s 400-meter hurdles at the US Olympic Trials Sunday afternoon at Hayward Field.

Demus, who last qualified for the Olympic Games in 2004, ran 53.98 to take the intermediate hurdles victory. The American record holder in the event, Demus becomes the second Gamecock in as many days to qualify with the chance to successfully defend a 2011 World Championship gold medal after Jason Richardson also advanced yesterday in the men’s 110-meter hurdles. Richardson and Demus both won gold in their events at the 2011 World Championships in Daegu.

Tiffany Ross-Williams missed her second straight Olympic bid by one spot after taking fourth overall in the 400-meter hurdles at 55.09. Ross-Williams, who placed eighth overall at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing in the event, missed out on a bid after placing behind third-place finisher T’Erea Brown at 54.81.

Johnny Dutch placed eighth overall in the men’s 400-meter hurdles at 51.47. The appearance marks his second consecutive time qualifying for the finals at the US Olympic Trials after taking fifth overall at the 2008 US Olympic Trials in the event.