June 24, 2010

USA Outdoor Championships

DES MOINES, Iowa - UC Davis standout Alex Wilright opened up strong at the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships at Drake Stadium on Thursday afternoon, finishing third in his heat of the 400-meter hurdles with a near school-record time of 50.48 seconds, advancing to Friday's semifinal.

Wilright, who will be a senior next season, is making his second straight appearance at the national championship meet after advancing to last year's semifinal. He's coming off another impressive year with the Aggies in which he captured the Cal-Nevada Championship for the third time.

NCAA champion Johnny Dutch won Wilright's heat in 49.64 while 2008 Olympic alternate Justin Gaymon was second in 50.32. Wilright's time was barely behind his school-record clocking of 50.47, set at Arizona State this spring, and was the fifth-fastest overall.

Bershawn Jackson, Olympic bronze medalist in 2008, had the day's fastest time at 49.58.

The top four finishers in each heat qualified for Friday's semifinals along with the next four fastest finishers overall. Wilright will race at 5:45 p.m. (Pacific) with an eye toward Saturday's final.

Freshman Jeff Campbell, also racing in UC Davis uniform, will compete in the 400 hurdles as part of the USA Outdoor Junior Championships. His first-round race will be on Friday at 12:10 p.m. (Pacific).

USA OUTDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS
Des Moines, Iowa (Drake Stadium)
UC Davis results only

Men's 400H (prelims) - 1. Bershawn Jackson, Nike, 49.58... 5. Alex Wilright, 50.48.