University of North Carolina Athletics
Former UNC Track & Field Athletes At The Olympics
July 26, 2012 | Track & Field
LONDON – Four former members of the Tar Heel track and field program are prepped and ready to compete in 2012 Olympic Games representing three countries including the United States, India and Sierra Leone. Vikas Gowda and Shalane Flanagan, who earned bronze for the 10,000 meters in Beijing, are competing in their third Olympiad, Alice Schmidt is competing in her second, and Ola Sesay is competing in her first.
Sesay is a storyline all her own as she is the first woman representing Sierra Leone to qualify for athletics (track and field) at any Olympic Games. She will compete in the long jump. Sesay is a 2001 graduate of North Carolina where she specialized in the long jump, hurdles and sprints.
Gowda, a 2006 graduate, will compete in the discus throw. He is the 2006 NCAA champion in the discus and is India's best hopes to medal in the track and field events. India has not won an international medal in track and field since the 2003 World Championships.
Schmidt made headlines at the U.S. Olympic Trials in June when she qualified for two events, the 800 and 1500, both of which she has exceeded her personal bests in the past two seasons. Schmidt, a 2004 graduate, will compete in the 800 in London. She is a three-time NCAA champion and has 10 top-five NCAA finishes to her credit.
Flanagan will compete in the marathon after winning the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trial in January. This will be just her third marathon in her career. The 2004 graduate merited phenomenal success while at Carolina, earning four national championships (two in cross country) and a total nine top-three finishes across her NCAA Championships career. Her mother, Cheryl Treworgy, is the former world-record holder of the women's marathon but was unable to compete in any Olympiad because of distance restrictions for women's competition.
The 2012 Olympics run July 27th through August 12th. Keep up with UNC track and field as well as field hockey and women's soccer who also boast UNC-affiliated players at the Olympics on GoHeels.com. Fans can also tune in to NBC's coverage of the London Games both on television and online at www.nbcolympics.com.
Dates and Times to Watch UNC Track and Field at the Olympics
Sunday, August 5th
11:00 am – Marathon – Shalane Flanagan
Monday, August 6th
10:00 am – Discus Qualification – Vikas Gowda
Tuesday, August 7th
2:05 pm – Long Jump Qualification – Ola Sesay
7:45 pm – Discus Final
Wednesday, August 8th
6:35 am – Long Jump Final
Thursday, August 9th
2:30 pm – 800 Semifinals – Alice Schmidt
Saturday, August 11th
3:00 pm – 800 Final
*all times in Eastern Daylight Savings Time
