A&M's Coleman claims silver in USA Jr. 400 hurdles
BLOOMINGTON, Indiana - A silver-medal performance at the USA Junior Championships by Aggie frosh Greg Coleman with a time of 51.31 seconds in the 400 hurdles earned him a place on the United States team that will compete at the IAAF World Junior Championships in July.
Coleman became the fourth A&M track and field athlete to qualify for the World Juniors, which will be held July 10-15 in Barcelona, Spain. Three other Aggies - Devin Bogert (javelin), Jennifer Madu (100m) and Shelbi Vaughan (discus) - qualified for the team during Friday's portion of the USA Juniors.
Coming into the meet with the top US Junior time of 51.01, which placed fourth at the Big 12 Championships, Coleman is now the second fastest after Eric Futch won the final in 50.73 seconds.
Two other Aggies put themselves in contention for a Barcelona trip during semifinals in the men's 400 and women's 200 on Saturday.
Aldrich Bailey, the top prep in the nation with a 45.19 best, clocked a 45.93 to dominate his heat of the 400 as the runner-up finished in 47.59. The next best pair of times out of the other two heats was a 46.43 from Chidi Okezie and a 46.73 by Arman Hall.
In the 200 A&M frosh Olivia Ekponé won her heat in 23.61, with a -1.9 wind, over Kali Davis White (23.86). Dezerea Bryant, who claimed the USA Junior 100m title on Friday, recorded the top qualifying time of 23.31 while Shayla Sanders turned in a 23.49.
Aggie frosh Chelsea Utley finished in a tie for fifth place in the high jump as she cleared 5-7.
The USA Junior Championships conclude on Sunday with four Aggies in action. Dalton Rowan is in the discus and Jennifer Madu is in the triple jump while Bailey runs in the 400 final and Ekponé competes in the 200 final.
