Official newspaper of The University of Texas at Austin

The Daily Texan

Official newspaper of The University of Texas at Austin

The Daily Texan

Official newspaper of The University of Texas at Austin

The Daily Texan

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October 4, 2022
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Akinosun named alternate for Team USA during Olympic Track & Field Trials

MorolakeAkinosun
AP Photo/ Stephen Spillman

Former Longhorn Morolake Akinosun clinched an alternate spot on Team USA during the USATF Olympic trials Sunday in Eugene, Oregon. Akinosun will be an alternate for the 100-meter event during the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

Akinosun ran a 10.97 in the 100-meter semifinals, and a personal best 10.95 in the finals to clinch fourth place and an alternate spot for the Olympics. She also has a chance to be selected to the pool of runners for the 4×100 relay. Those names have not been announced yet.

"I feel incredible. I picked the perfect time to have PR’s," Akinosun said. "I would have loved to have done it at the NCAA three weeks ago, but I think that I'm happier with this performance in doing it here now."


Former Longhorns Courtney Okolo and Ashley Spencer both ran in the 400-meter, but were unable to finish in the top-three to make their first Olympic team. Okolo entered the trials at No. 2 in the world.

"This meet doesn't define [Okolo’s] season or her career. It's just the beginning. She will need to use this meets as, one: motivation, and two: lessons for the future," associate head coach Tonja Buford-Bailey said. "That's the great thing about knowing you have a long future ahead. She now knows what it's going to take to get in the top three spots."

Buffalo Bills wide receiver and former Longhorn Marquise Goodwin was hoping to become the first active NFL player to make the Olympics. However, Goodwin finished in seventh place in the long jump competition with 8.25 meters.

"There were some great performances tonight to try and make that team. I know [Goodwin is] disappointed, but not very many people can go out there and jump 27 feet like he did after a short training window," Texas head coach Mario Sategna said.

The trials conclude on Monday in Eugene.

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Akinosun named alternate for Team USA during Olympic Track & Field Trials