TicketsUC's Olympic Hopefuls Take the Stage
Contact: Geoff Wiswell
7/12/2004
Mary Danner owns the top 10 times in UC history in the 400-meter dash. |
CINCINNATI, Ohio ? A pair of former Cincinnati Bearcats are attempting to make the U.S. Olympic Track & Field Team at the national trials beginning today.
Mary Danner (Cincinnati, Ohio/Walnut Hills), who graduated in 2002, is the 12th-seeded woman in the 400-meter dash, which gets underway with the quarterfinal heats on Monday evening. Danner is the UC record-holder in the event and owns the top 10 times in school history.
David Payne (Wyoming, Ohio/Wyoming) just concluded his Bearcat career by becoming just the second two-time All-American in school history, placing sixth in the 110-meter hurdles at the 2004 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships. He is also the UC record holder in his event and a two-time Conference USA champion in the 110-meter hurdles. He is seeded 20th at the Trials, with preliminary heats starting on July 17.
The top three finishers in each event will go to Athens, Greece for the 2004 Summer Olympics. Danner has an additional chance to be named to the six-person 4x400-meter relay team. Former Bearcat Laura Valldeperas (Chicago, Ill./Woodstock) will be competing for El Salvador at the Games in the 100-meter hurdles and long jump.
2004 U.S. Olympic Track & Field Trials
Mary Danner - 400-meter dash
Date Round Time TV
July 12 Quarterfinals 7:20 p.m. PT USA (10 p.m. - 1 a.m. ET)
July 15 Semifinals 7:35 p.m. PT USA (10 p.m. - 12 a.m. ET)
July 17 Finals 2:52 p.m. PT NBC (5 p.m. - 6 p.m. ET)
David Payne - 110-meter hurdles
Date Round Time TV
July 17 Qualifying 12:35 p.m. PT
Quarterfinals 2:30 p.m. PT NBC (5 p.m. - 6 p.m. ET)
July 18 Semifinals 3:00 p.m. PT
Finals 5:13 p.m. PT NBC (7 p.m. - 9 p.m. ET)