Seven ex-Wildcats eyeing Olympics
ACU to be well-represented at U.S. Olympic Trials
SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Seven former ACU national champions will begin their quests to earn spots on the United States' Olympic team as they compete in the U.S. Olympic Trials at Alex G. Spanos Sports Complex.
The trials begin July 9 and conclude July 18 with national television coverage provided by both USA Network and NBC.
The seven former Wildcats scheduled to compete are Kevin Dilworth (long jump), Tongula Givens (long jump and triple jump), Mickey Grimes (100 meters and 200 meters), Stephen Moore (decathlon), Eric Thomas (400-meter hurdles), Stephanie Warren (triple jump) and Terrance Woods (high jump). Three former Wildcats have already qualified for the Olympic Games: Delloreen Ennis-London of Jamaica (100-meter hurdles), Christie VanWyk of Namibia (100 meters) and Nic Alexander of Trinidad (100 meters and 4x100 relay).
Dilworth, Givens, Thomas and Warren will begin competition Friday with qualifying heats in their respective events. The finals for each of those athletes will be Sunday, July 11. Grimes begins competition in the 100 meters on Saturday, while Givens will begin competition in the triple jump on Monday.
FORMER WILDCATS IN U.S. OLYMPIC TRIALS
Marks listed for each are best performances in qualifying period that started 01Jan03. Marks in [brackets] are A standards for Olympic Games that must be met by 09Aug04 (if the U.S. sends three athletes in that event). Only Grimes, Johnson, Moore, Stevenson and Thomas have met Olympic Games A standards as of 27Jun04.]
Kevin Dilworth, long jump
Odessa JC '94
Abilene Christian '96
26-6.5 [26-10.5] (qualifying July 9, final July 11)
Ranked fifth in U.S. last year. U.S. national champ in 1999. Member of U.S. team for World University Games, Pan American Games, IAAF World Championships. Highest ranking: 3rd in world, 2nd in U.S. in 2001.
Tongula Givens, long jump, triple jump
Chillocothe High School '91
Abilene Christian '92
20-10 [21-11.75] (qualifying July 12, final July 15)
45-1.5 [46-7.25] (qualifying July 9, final July 11)
Lone Star Conference TJ runner-up and all-America as freshman for Wildcats in 1992 before transfer to Missouri Southern. NCAA Div II champ in TJ outdoors in 1994 and indoors in 1995.
Mickey Grimes, 100, 200
Abilene Christian '98
9.99 [10.21] (first round and quarterfinals July 10, semis and final July 11)
20.31 [20.59] (first round July 16, quarterfinals and semis July 17, final July 18)
Ranked 9th in U.S. last year in 100. Member of U.S. team for Pan American Games and IAAF World Championships (gold in 4x100 in 2001). Also played football (DB) for Wildcats.
Stephen Moore, decathlon
Borger High School
Abilene Christian '99
8,085 [8,000] (July 16-17)
Ranked fourth in U.S. last year. Silver medal at World University Games in 1999 and gold medal at Pan American Games in 2003.
Eric Thomas, 400 hurdles
Abilene Christian '95
48.46 [49.20] (quarterfinals July 9, semifinals July 10, final July 11)
Ranked 9th in world and 2nd in U.S. last year. Member of U.S. team for 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney (5th in semifinal heat). Also member of U.S. team for Pan American Games (silver medal in 2003) and IAAF World Championships. Second at U.S. Olympic trials in 2000 in Sacramento to make Olympic team after narrowly missing in 1996 when he was fourth at trials in Atlanta.
Stephanie Warren, triple jump
Abilene Christian '04
43-4.25 [46-7.25] (qualifying July 9, final July 11)
NCAA Div II champ in TJ in 2004.
Terrance Woods, high jump
Abilene Christian '02
7-5.25 [7-6.5] (qualifying July 15, final July 18)
NCAA Div II champion in HJ and TJ. Ranked fifth in U.S. last year and won bronze medal at Pan American Games.
