Former Bison Reaches Olympic Trial Semis
June 28, 2008
Former Oklahoma Baptist University national champion Michael Rodgers advanced to the semifinal round of the US Track and Field Olympic Trials' 100 meters event.
Rodgers, who led the Bison to the 2007 NAIA Outdoor Track and Field National Championship, ran the first quarterfinal heat in Eugene, Ore., placing fifth in 10.07 seconds. Rodgers was in the same heat as Tyson Gay, who won the heat with an American record 9.77 seconds.
The top four runners in each of the quarterfinal heats advanced, along with the next four best times. Rodgers qualified with the 14th best time to become one of 16 semifinalists.
Rodgers runs in the semifinal round Sunday at 2:30 p.m. Pacific time. The finals are set for 4:49 p.m. on Sunday. Rodgers also has a chance to qualify for the 4x100 relay.
Rodgers won the USA Track and Field's Indoor 60 national championship in February.
Rodgers, who set the NAIA meet record last year in 6.65 seconds, won the USATF meet in 6.54 seconds in the meet shown on ESPN.
A transfer from Lindenwood, Rodgers led a successful career in track by becoming a two time national champion as team, national indoor champion in the 100 and 200-meter races in 2005, as well as national outdoor champion in the 200, 4x100 meter relays in 2005. He also earned All-American in the 100 meter race.
In his senior season at OBU, Rodgers led the Bison to the 2007 national outdoor title. He won the 100 meters, placed second in the 200 meters and anchored the national champion 4x100 relay team.
In his final indoor season as a Bison, Rodgers set the NAIA record in the 60 meters and also claimed the national title in the 200 meters.
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