Aug. 14, 2009
COLUMBIA, S.C. – As a contingent of eight current and former South Carolina Gamecocks – including rising junior Johnny Dutch – prepare to compete at the 12th IAAF World Championships held at Olympiastadion in Berlin, Germany, GamecocksOnline.com will continue to provide daily performance updates and photos taken by the athletes themselves.
In preparation for the championships, Universal Sports has released its medal predictions and it is no surprise that a handful of Gamecocks are favored to collect gold, silver and bronze hardware while in Berlin. On the men’s side, Gamecock Hall of Fame member Terrence Trammell is predicted to repeat as a silver medalist in the 110-meter hurdles after missing out on gold in 2007 by four-thousandths of a second.
South Carolina rising junior Johnny Dutch is predicted to earn bronze medal honors as part of a Team USA sweep in the 400-meter hurdles in his first meet as a member of the full national team.
World leader (52.63) Lashinda Demus is expected to bring home gold in the women’s 400-meter hurdles. Teammate Tiffany Ross-Williams comes into the championships with the world’s ninth-best time in the event at 54.50.
Three Gamecocks are favored to win medals in the relays, most notably Americans Shalonda Solomon and Natasha Hastings. Solomon is a member of the 4x100m relay pool and Hastings is a member of the 4x400m relay pool. Olympian Aleen Bailey is a member of the Jamaican 4x100m relay pool that is predicted to earn silver medal honors.
Representing Finland is Jussi Heikkila who holds his nation’s fastest time this year in the 400-meter hurdles at 50.07.
GAMECOCK EVENT START TIMES
MEN
110m Hurdles – Terrence Trammell
Heats: Wednesday, August 19 – 5:35 a.m. EST (Heat TBA)
Semifinal: Thursday, August 20 – 12:15 p.m. EST
Final: Thursday, August 20 – 2:55 p.m. EST
400m Hurdles – Johnny Dutch & Jussi Heikkila
Heats: Saturday, August 15 – 2:20 p.m. EST (Both in Heat 1)
Semifinal: Sunday, August 16 – 2:15 p.m. EST
Final: Tuesday, August 18 – 2:50 p.m. EST
WOMEN
400m Hurdles – Lashinda Demus & Tiffany Ross-Williams
Heats: Monday, August 17 – 12:15 p.m. EST (Heats TBA)
Semifinal: Tuesday, August 18 – 2:15 p.m. EST
Final: Thursday, August 20 – 2:15 p.m. EST
4x100m Relay – Shalonda Solomon & Aleen Bailey
Semifinal: Saturday, August 22 – 12:10 p.m. EST (Heats TBA)
Final: Saturday, August 22 – 2:00 p.m. EST
4x400m Relay – Natasha Hastings
Semifinal: Saturday, August 22 – 2:15 p.m. EST (Heats TBA)
Final: Sunday, August 23 – 11:50 a.m. EST
NBC, VERSUS TO BROADCAST WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
The 2009 World Championships will be broadcast in the United States daily on NBC and Versus. The broadcast schedule is as follows. All times Eastern; subject to change; check local listings.
August 15: 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. NBC
August 16: 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. NBC
August 17: 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. Versus
August 18: 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. Versus
August 19: 1:30 – 4:00 p.m. Versus
August 20: 1:30 – 3:30 p.m. Versus
August 21: 1:30 – 3:30 p.m. Versus
August 22: 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. NBC
August 23: 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. NBC
