Aug. 6, 2012

=”” alt=”Facebook Logo” border=”0″ class=”imported”>Gamecock Track & Field on Facebook
=”” alt=”Twitter Logo” border=”0″ class=”imported”>Follow @GamecockTrack on Twitter

By Miquel Jacobs
Assistant Media Relations Director

LONDON – Former Gamecock Lashinda Demus has earned the right to compete for her first Olympic gold medal after taking third overall in the women’s 400-meter hurdle semifinals Tuesday afternoon in London.

With a time of 54.08, Demus won her heat that included two of the four women who entered the Olympic Games with faster times this season. Demus surpassed hometown hero Perri Shakes-Drayton and Russia’s Irina Davydova in the second heat to earn her automatic berth into Wednesday’s final round. Davydova and Shakes-Drayton had the third and fourth best times of the year entering the games, but American record holder and reigning world champion Demus continued her fine form to solidify her status as a medal favorite.

“I tried to work on something, and I kind of messed up a bit,” Demus said. “I had pretty bad technical race, but that’s what the rounds are for. I know that I’ll get it right in the final.”

Gamecock Individual Olympians Schedule
Lashinda Demus – Women’s 400m Hurdles
Round 1 – Sunday Aug 5th @ 2:00 p.m. (ET)
Semifinals – Monday Aug 6th @ 3:15 p.m. (ET)
Final – Wednesday Aug 8th @ 3:45 p.m. (ET)

Jason Richardson – Men’s 110m Hurdles
Round 1 – Tuesday, Aug 7th @ 5:10 a.m. (ET)
Semifinals – Wednesday, Aug 8th @ 2:15 p.m. (ET)
Final – Wednesday, Aug 8th @ 4:15 p.m. (ET)