The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Spencer overcomes stumble to reach Olympic final
08.16.2016 | Track & Field / Cross Country
Current Longhorn Byron Robinson misses men's final by .01
Women's 400m Hurdles Semifinals Results
Men's 400m Hurdles Semifinals Results
RIO DE JANEIRO – Longhorns put on a show on Tuesday night in the semifinals of the 400 meter hurdles at the Olympic Games with a personal best time from one and a stumble followed by a rally to the finish for a win by another.
Lifetime Longhorn Ashley Spencer advanced to the final in her first Olympics for Team USA in a dramatic finish to her semifinal heat. Spencer began to make her move with 120 meters to go over the eighth hurdle. She pulled even with the leaders then clipped the ninth hurdle and nearly fell.
Spencer was able to save herself from falling and took the lead over the 10th hurdle to win in 54.87 seconds and advance to the Wednesday's final automatically.
"Ashley has been so impressive just in regards to her composure," said Texas Head Coach and Team USA Men's Assistant Coach Mario Sategna. "She looked really impressive in the qualifying last night and today in the semis she did a great job to advance to the final. If you can get a lane in the final, anything is possible."
In the men's semifinals of the 400 meter hurdles it was rising senior Byron Robinson who ran a new personal best time and came as close as possible to making the final.
Robinson crossed the finish line in 48.65 seconds to finish third in his heat and just outside of the at-large spots based on time. He was just .01 behind that final available spot although his time ranked eighth overall in the semis.
"I think that Byron proved again that he's next in line to take over the reins as one of America's top 400 hurdlers, where we have had tremendous success at the World Championship and Olympic level," Sategna said. "To PR and come up short, I know he'll be disappointed, because that's Byron. That's the drive that makes him great. That passion. And that's something that comes from within."
Spencer will run in the final at 8:15 p.m. CT Thursday from Olympic Stadium seeking the second medal by a Longhorn in the women's 400 meter hurdles. Melaine Walker won gold in 2008 for Jamaica. Spencer also will have guidance from Texas Associate Head Coach Tonja Buford-Bailey in Rio, who is a three-time Olympian in the event and won bronze in 1996.
Fans can watch the action live on NBC or online at NBCOlympics.com. Thursday's action also will include Morolake Akinosun in the women's 4x100 meter relay and Ryan Crouser in the men's shot put. No Longhorns are slated to compete on Wednesday.
Texas Remaining Schedule & Live Stream Links (times Central)
Thursday, Aug. 18
7:30 a.m. – Women's 4x100m Relay 1st Rd. – Stream: http://stream.nbcolympics.com/track-feed-day-13-morning
7:55 a.m. – Men's Shot Put Qualifying Rd. – Group A http://stream.nbcolympics.com/track-and-field-men-group-A-shot-put-qualification | Group B http://stream.nbcolympics.com/track-and-field-men-group-B-shot-put-qualification
5:20 p.m. – Women's 400m Hurdles Final – Stream: http://stream.nbcolympics.com/track-feed-day-13-evening%3C
6:30 p.m. – Men's Shot Put Final – Stream: http://stream.nbcolympics.com/track-and-field-men-shot-put-final
TV Listings: 7 a.m. NBCSN | 9 a.m. NBC | 12 p.m. Telemundo | 7 p.m. NBC
Friday, Aug. 19
6:10 p.m. – Women's 4x400m Relay 1st Rd. & Women's 4x100m Final – Stream: http://stream.nbcolympics.com/track-feed-day-14-evening
TV Listings: 6 a.m. NBCSN | 9:30 a.m. Telemundo | 1 p.m. msnbc | 7 p.m. NBC
Saturday, Aug. 20
6:10 p.m. – Women's 4x400m Relay Final – Stream: http://stream.nbcolympics.com/track-feed-day-15-evening
TV Listings: 7 p.m. NBC
Track & Field Live Results Links
Men's Shot Put Live Results: https://www.rio2016.com/en/athletics-standings-at-mens-shot-put
Women's 400m Hurdles Live Results: https://www.rio2016.com/en/athletics-standings-at-womens-400m-hurdles
Women's 4x100m Relay Live Results: https://www.rio2016.com/en/athletics-standings-at-womens-4-x-100m-relay
Women's 4x400m Relay Live Results: https://www.rio2016.com/en/athletics-standings-at-womens-4-x-400m-relay
