University of Tennessee Athletics
Lady Vol Presence At USA Championships
June 21, 2011 | Women's Track
June 21, 2011
By Eric Trainer, Associate Director of Media Relations
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Tennessee will be well-represented by present and past members of the Big Orange track & field program this weekend, as the USA Outdoor Championships are contested June 23-26 at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore.
Up to 10 current members of the program will be in action in Eugene, with five of those student-athletes competing in the senior division and the other five taking part in the junior (under 20) competition. As many as 11 former UT standouts could take part in the senior level meet, which will be televised by ESPN2, NBC and Universal.
The TV schedule includes coverage by ESPN2 on June 24, from 11 p.m.-1 a.m. Eastern time (re-air on ESPN2 on June 25 from 1-3 p.m. ET), by Universal (3-4:30 p.m.) and NBC (5-6 p.m.) on June 25, and by Universal (3-4 p.m.) and NBC (5-6 p.m.) on June 26.
Current team members taking part in the senior portion of the meet include Lady Vol junior Ellen Wortham, last year's eighth-place finisher who enters ranked No. 5 in the 400m hurdles at 55.70, as well as teammates junior Chanelle Price (800m, 2:02.84) and senior Liz Costello (10000m, 33:25.66 or 5000m, 16:12.30). Lady Vol Brittany Sheffey (1500m, 4:19.49) received word of her acceptance into the championships late Monday night, while Vol Joe Berry (pole vault, 17-8 1/2) is still awaiting word from USA Track & Field as to whether he has been accepted into the meet.
In the junior division, Lady Vol freshmen Kianna Ruff (2:07.97), ranked seventh, as well as Brittney Jackson (2:11.19) and Ty-Vonna Johnson (2:12.37), will run the 800 meters, while Linda Hadfield competes in the pole vault (13-1 3/4). Tavis Bailey, a transfer from Lenoir-Rhyne College who already has enrolled at UT, will compete in the men's discus throw (173-10) and represent the Vols as the seventh-ranked contestant.
Among former Tennessee standouts, Aries Merritt and Phoebe Wright enter with the highest profiles. Merritt ranks No. 2 in the men's 110m hurdles with a best time of 13.12, while Wright enters the meet with the No. 2 readout in the women's 800m at 1:58.22. Olympians Justin Gatlin and DeeDee Trotter also are among the top entrants in their events. Gatlin ranks fifth in the 100m (9.97) and eighth in the 200m (20.20), while Trotter is sixth in the 400m (51.36.).
Other former Vols expected at Hayward Field include Garland Porter, who stands No. 6 in the hammer throw at 239-5, Chris Helwick (decathlon, 7799), Rubin Williams (100m, 10.18 and 200m, 20.38) and Evander Wells (200m, 20.67). Wells is awaiting word as to whether he has been accepted into the 100m dash (10.28).
Former Lady Vol Jackie Areson is declared in both the 1500 (4:12.55) and 5000 meters (15:39.81), while Kimarra McDonald is entered in the 800m (2:05.28). Celriece Law (100mH, 13.19) is awaiting confirmation.
Three of J.J. Clark's non-UT pupils, sister Hazel Clark (800m, 2:02.45), Erica Moore (800m, 2:01.12) and Heidi Dahl (1500m, 4:12.78) also will be at the USA Championships.
On Thursday, current UT athletes in action include Price in the first round of the women's 800m, Wortham in the first round of the women's 400m hurdles, Sheffey in the semifinals of the women's 1500m and possibly Costello in the final of the women's 10000m. Former standouts competing include Helwick in day one of the men's decathlon, Wright and McDonald in the women's 800m first round, Porter in the men's hammer throw, Trotter in the women's 400m first round, Gatlin and Williams in the men's 100m first round and Areson in the women's 1500m semifinals.
Go to the following link for the complete meet schedule: www.usatf.org.
