University of Tennessee Athletics
TROTTER GRABS FINAL LADY VOL ATHLETE OF THE WEEK ACCOLADE
June 27, 2003 | Women's Track
June 16, 2003
KNOXVILLE, Tenn.
University of Tennessee sophomore Dee Dee Trotter wrapped up the 2002-03 season's final Lady Vol Athlete of the Week honor and collected her fourth such accolade of the campaign after placing second at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Sacramento, Calif., on June 14. Trotter was chosen in a vote by the UT women's media relations staff.
Trotter, from Decatur, Ga., gave a sensational effort in a runner-up finish in the 400-meter dash at the NCAA meet, introducing herself to the nation on collegiate track & field's grandest stage. After making the turn toward the home stretch in what appeared to be fourth or fifth place, the UT record-holder stormed down the final straightaway and nearly caught Texas phenom Sanya Richards at the wire, lowering her Lady Vol standard yet again to an impressive 50.66. Richards, the highly-touted Longhorn freshman, was just able to hold off Trotter as she improved her American junior record of 50.58 to triumph by 8/100ths of a second. LSU's Nadia Davy was not able to fend off Trotter, finishing third by a hair's breadth.
Trotter, whose time ranks second to Richards among all U.S. 400 meter runners in 2003, collected the third All-America citation of her career. She had previously picked up awards for the Big Orange's 4x400m indoor and outdoor relays as a freshman. Trotter's second-place result in the 400 ties Ilrey Oliver's 1986 NCAA runner-up effort for the best finish by a Lady Vol at that distance. It was also the first top-three finish in an individual running event by a UT woman at NCAA Outdoors since Kelli White took third in the 200m dash in 1999.
