University of Tennessee Athletics
TENNESSEE'S TOYIN OLUPONA SET FOR CANADIAN CHAMPIONSHIPS
July 14, 2005 | Women's Track
July 14, 2005
WINNIPEG, Manitoba, Canada -- University of Tennessee sprint standout Toyin Olupona (TOY-in OH-loo-PO-na) is back in her home country this week, vying for a trip to the IAAF World Championships. The Lady Vol All-American will compete on Friday at the Canadian Track & Field Championships at University Stadium.
Olupona, who recently concluded her senior season at UT, will compete in the 100-meter dash prelims at 4:55 p.m. Eastern Time. The championship (A) final is slated for 8:50 p.m., while the consolation (B) final is set for 8:20 p.m. At stake is a chance to join Lady Vol teammate Tianna Madison and former Big Orange pals Kameisha Bennett and Dee Dee Trotter in the IAAF World Championships in Helsinki, Finland, Aug. 6-14. Madison will be representing the United States in the long jump competition, while Bennett and Trotter will run the 800m and 400m, respectively, for Team USA.
During her final year at Rocky Top, Olupona's highlights included a second consecutive runner-up finish in the 60-meter dash at the NCAA Indoor Championships, where she helped Tennessee claim its first-ever national indoor team title. She also notched a fifth-place effort in the 100 meters at the NCAA Outdoor meet in a time of 11.41 and posted a career best of 11.37 earlier in the season in taking third at the NCAA Mideast Regional. She tuned up for the Canadian Championships by winning the 100 meters in a clocking of 11.4 at the Harry Jerome International Track Classic in Vancouver, British Columbia, on June 14.
