Four Bearcats Head To USA T&F Outdoor Championships

Four Bearcats Head To USA T&F Outdoor ChampionshipsFour Bearcats Head To USA T&F Outdoor Championships

June 22, 2011

CINCINNATI - A group of four current and former University of Cincinnati student-athletes are set to compete at the 2011 USA Track & Field Junior and Senior Outdoor Championships Thursday through Saturday at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.

The USA Senior Championships serve as the selection event for the coveted spots to represent Team USA at the IAAF World Championships Aug. 27- Sept. 4 in Daegu, South Korea.

Junior All-American hurdler Terrence Somerville (Akron, Ohio/Butchel) is the lone current Bearcat competing in the senior division. Somerville will race in the first round of 110-meter hurdles Friday at 6:45 p.m. ET. The 2011 BIG EAST Most Outstanding Athlete is coming off an eighth-place finish at the NCAA Championships on June 11.

The semifinal of the men's 110-meter hurdles is scheduled for a 4 p.m. ET Saturday start time, with the 110m hurdle final to begin less than two hours later at 5:44 p.m. ET.

Two former Cincinnati track stars will compete in the first round of the men's and women's 400-meter dash on Thursday. UC assistant coach and 2008 Olympic gold medalist Mary Wineberg will race in the women's 400 at 7:40 p.m. ET. Antione Drakeford, the UC record holder in the 400 with a 2009 mark of 45.83 seconds, is scheduled to run in the men's race at 8 p.m. ET.

The semifinals of the women's and men's 400 are slated to begin Friday at 8:30 p.m. and 8:45 p.m. ET, respectively. The 400m finals are set for Saturday at 5:04 p.m. ET (men) and 5:14 p.m. (women).

In the junior division, freshman Mary Bridges (North Olmsted, Ohio/North Olmsted) will compete in the women's discus throw at 12:45 p.m. ET Thursday. If Bridges finishes in the top two, she would qualify for a spot on the U.S. Junior National Team that will compete in the 2011 Pan American Junior Athletics Championships, July 22-24, in Miramar, Fla.

The 2011 USA Track & Field Championships will be featured on three TV networks in six broadcasts spread over three days of competition. Broadcasts will air on ESPN2, Universal and NBC. View the full TV schedule here.

In addition, a free webcast will be provided in partnership with RunnerSpace.com. The webcast will run throughout the duration of the event, with commentators including: Larry Rawson, Jenny Adams, Dan O'Brien, Joanna Hayes and John Godina. During the event, the webcast can be viewed online here.

TV Coverage
Friday, June 24:
ESPN2 11 p.m.-1 a.m. ET
Saturday, June 25
ESPN2 Re-air 1-3 p.m. ET
Universal 3-4:30 p.m. ET
NBC 5-6 p.m. ET
Sunday, June 26:
Universal 3-4 p.m. ET
NBC 5-6 p.m. ET

Thursday: 12:45 p.m. Discus Junior Women Trials & Finals (Mary Bridges)
7:40 p.m. 400-meter Dash Senior Women First Round (Mary Wineberg)
8 p.m. 400-meter Dash Senior Men First Round (Antione Drakeford)

Friday: 6:45 p.m. 110-meter Hurdles Senior Men 1st Round (Terrence Somerville)
8:30 p.m. 400-meter Dash Senior Women Semifinal (Mary Wineberg)
8:45 p.m. 400-meter Dash Senior Men Semifinal (Antione Drakeford)

Saturday: 4 p.m. 110-meter Hurdles Senior Men Semifinal (Terrence Somerville)
5:04 p.m. 400-meter Dash Senior Men Final (Antione Drakeford)
5:14 p.m. 400-meter Dash Senior Women Final (Mary Wineberg)
5:44 p.m. 110-meter Hurdles Senior Men Final (Terrence Somerville)