University of North Carolina Athletics
Hutchinson Participates In Olympic Torch Relay
June 11, 2012 | Track & Field
June 11, 2012
CHAPEL HILL- Freshman Joe Hutchinson, a member of the North Carolina track and field team, recently ran a leg of the Olympic torch relay in Bristol. In preparation of the 2012 Olympic Games in London, the Olympic torch will be carried through more than 1,000 cities, towns and villages in the United Kingdom, leading up to the Opening Ceremonies of the Games on July 27.
Hutchinson, a native of Bowerhill, Melkshem, ran his leg of the relay on the morning of Wednesday, May 23, in Bristol. He ran about 600 meters with the torch before passing off to another one of the 110 relay participants from the UK.
"This is a great honor for Joe, his family, and for the University of North Carolina," head coach Dennis Craddock said. "We are very proud of Joe for being chosen and for having the opportunity to do this as a freshman."
With a list of outstanding athletic and academic achievements, Hutchinson was nominated by his high school as a local role model in athletics to take part in the torch relay. He was notified in December that he was chosen, although the official announcement on the 2012 Torchbearers was made Monday.
"Being chosen is a great honor and privilege," Hutchinson said. "I must thank the university for giving me the opportunity to go and carry the torch during a period of the season which is especially busy for track and field. To be in the company of sporting greats such as Mohammed Ali and Cathy Freeman, who signified so much about the Sydney Games, is something that I would have never believed I would be a part of someday."
"It was incredible to see the support from the British public who were coming out to support the relay in their thousands and it is a great experience to be a part of because of them. To have members of the public come up to you and are genuinely interested by your story as to how you came to be involved with the relay was really special. Its looking like it will be a very special Olympics for home athletes if that support carries on into July and August," Hutchinson said.
Hutchinson has made an impact on the UNC team in just his first season, taking second in the heptathlon at the ACC Indoor Championships with a personal-best 5,285 points. Before beginning his career at Carolina, Hutchinson competed in the 10-meter hurdles and shot put to help Team England to the gold medal at the ISF Jean Humbert Cup, and placed second at the Great Britain vs. France Indoor Combined Events meet.
"This will be an experience that I can look back on when I'm done with my athletic career and be proud of. Being a part of the Olympics, even in this way, gives you great inspiration to one day be more than the torch carrier and by 2016 be the competitor."
For more information on the Olympic Torch Relay, visit the official Games website.
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