June 28, 2008
Eugene, Ore. (www.ucfathletics.com) - Current UCF assistant track and field coach Alexis Joyce raced in the semifinals of the 2008 United States Olympic Trials on Saturday, but saw her bid to make the 2008 Olympic Track and Field Team in the 100-meter dash fall just short. The Olympic Trials are being held June 27-July 6 at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore. Contestants are competing in their respective events to earn spots on the U.S. Olympic Team that will compete in the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing, China in August.
The former South Carolina standout posted her best time of the event in the quarterfinal round on Friday when she clocked an 11.16 to reach the semifinals, which featured the event's top 16 contestants. Joyce clocked a 11.31 in the semifinal-round as the top four runners from each of the two heats advanced to Saturday night's final.
Joyce, who was trained by UCF head coach Caryl Smith Gilbert in Orlando, was running unattached in the event that began with 33 participants. She had the 18th fastest time of 11.21 in the preliminary heats as 24 racers advanced to the quarterfinal round. Joyce then earned one of the last two spots in the semifinals with a time of 11.16 in that round to advance to Saturday's semifinal round.
Former Tulane All-American Gloria Asumnu, who also trains under Smith Gilbert, also reached the semifinals of the 100-meter dash, but her 11.13 was the 12th-best time in the round, leaving her a tenth of a second shy of qualifying for the finals.
For all of the most updated information on the 2008 Olympic Trials, please log on to www.eugene08.com.
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