Akinosun grabs alternate spot for Team USA

Sunday, July 3

Eugene, Ore.

All Day

University of Texas

U.S. Olympic Trials

07.03.2016 | Track & Field / Cross Country

Okolo, Spencer fall just short in 400 meters

EUGENE, Ore. – It was a day of great performances and mixed emotions for the Texas Longhorns on Sunday at the Olympic Track & Field Trials. Courtney Okolo failed to finish in the top three in the 400 meters despite a strong time, and Morolake Akinosun was all smiles after finishing fourth and solidifying herself as the alternate on Team USA in the 100 meters.

Akinosun put together the best series of runs in her career this weekend at the USATF Olympic Trials as she shined on the biggest stage.

On Sunday, Akinosun ran a wind-aided 10.97 in the semifinals to finish second in her heat and advance to the final. In the final she put in the best run of her career, clocking a wind-legal 10.95 seconds to finish in fourth place. These times after she ran a legal and then-personal best 10.99 in the first round on Saturday.

With the fourth-place finish, Akinosun will be the alternate for Team USA in the Olympic Games and almost ensures herself one of the six spots in the relay pool of runners for the 4x100 meter relay. Those runners will be announced at a later date by the USATF.

"I feel incredible. I picked the perfect time to have PR's," Akinosun said after the final. "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."

Associate Head Coach Tonja Buford-Bailey said it was the best she has ever seen Akinosun run and believes this is a great time to put together a performance like she did.

"It's amazing. It's not something I didn't think she could ever do," she said. "Running against those veterans like that, they know how to get to this meet and run well. Now she has the experience and there's only better things in store for her."

Texas Head Coach Mario Sategna will be in Rio this summer as a member of the Team USA coaching staff. He was excited to see Akinosun perform at such a high level at the biggest meet of her career right out of college.

"Making the final in the U.S. is a feat within itself and obviously after she got through in the semi at that point it becomes anybody's game," Sategna said of Akinosun. "PR's tonight for her and hopefully being a part of the relay pool for the U.S., it bodes well for her future and it's well-deserved for her."

Texas had a pair of alumnae in the final of the women's 400 meters with Courtney Okolo and Ashley Spencer looking to make their first Olympic teams. They each ran fast times but were not able to get in the top three.

Okolo entered the meet ranked No. 2 in the world but told reporters leading up to the meet that she expected the final to be a fast race.

It was and Okolo finished sixth with a time of 50.39 seconds. Spencer finished right behind her in seventh place at 51.09.

The race was the fastest in U.S. Olympic Trials history for places 3-4-5-6. After the race, Okolo said she failed to execute her race and was disappointed with her performance. She told reporters she was not caught off guard by the other performances.

"No, (I'm not surprised)," she said when asked if she was surprised by how fast the race was. "I'm surprised how slow I ran."

Buford-Bailey said Okolo can use this as a learning experience to make herself better and be mentally prepared for future battles like this one.

"This meet doesn't define her season or her career. It's just the beginning. She will need to use this meets as, 1: motivation, and 2: lessons for the future," 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."

Marquise Goodwin was attempting to make his second Olympic team and to become the first active NFL player in history to compete in the Olympic Games. Unfortunately, that quest came up just short as he finished in seventh place in the long jump at 8.25 meters (27-0.75).

The men's long jump was one of the most competitive events of the meet so far with seven jumpers soaring more than 27 feet. The lead changed hands multiple times and saw less than seven inches separated Goodwin from third place and a spot on Team USA.

"There were some great performances tonight to try and make that team. I know he's disappointed, but not very many people can go out there and jump 27 feet like he did after a short training window," Sategna said. "He's been a part of the team before and it just wasn't in the cards. Now he's got to get back in the mindset to get healthy and getting ready for the NFL for the fall."

Texas will have one Longhorn in action for the final day of the first weekend of action at the Olympic Trials. Reese Watson will compete in the final of the men's pole vault. He qualified for the final by tying for 12^th place during the qualifying round and being a late addition to the meet.

Fans can keep up with the action online with live results provided at USATF.org. NBC and NBC Sports Network will be providing television coverage as well as online streaming. Updates on the Longhorns can be found on the team's official Twitter account @UTexasTrack.