June 29, 2014

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Five former Gamecocks ran in event finals at the 2014 USA Track & Field Outdoor Championships in Sacramento, Calif., on Sunday with Johnny Dutch capturing his first U.S. championship.

A six-time finalist and two-time runner up in the men’s 400-meter hurdles, Dutch finally broke through for a U.S. championship. Dutch ran a comfortable race and easily clinched the crown with a time of 48.93. The championship capped a great meet for the Gamecock after he breezed through the first two rounds of the event.

Dutch won the 2010 NCAA 400-meter hurdle championship while at South Carolina.

In the women’s 400-meter hurdles, former Gamecocks went 4-5 in the finals. Tiffany Ross Williams and Lashinda Demus, teammates on the 2002 NCAA Championship squad, ran strong races, clocking times of 54.84 and 55.17, respectively, just missing out on the podium.

Jason Richardson, 2011 World Champion and 2012 Olympic silver medalist in the 110-meter hurdles, was looking to regain his form at this weekend’s meet. The 2008 NCAA champion ultimately finished fifth, crossing in 13.27 (+2.1). Richardson snuck into the finals after he finished fourth in his semifinal heat with a time of 13.33 (+2.6).

Three-time NCAA champion Shalonda Solomon went into the 200-meter dash finals with the third-fastest time in the prelims at 22.64. The 2011 U.S. champion, put forth a fourth-place effort in the finals, posting a 22.54 (+3.8).