Photo by Image of Sport
Once upgraded to MileSplit Universal, click links below and login to watch Episode 1 & 2 of Driven: LaShawn Merritt.
A hamstring injury set him back from competing and defending his gold medal in 2012 (dropped out in the London Olympics prelims), but Sunday's victory at Hayward Field gives Merritt another opportunity for Olympic glory with his 5th career U.S. outdoor title in the 400 meter dash. His top competition once again should be last year's World champion Kirani James, the 23 year old sprinter from the Caribbean island country of Grenada.
Merritt will not be the only Virginian representing the United States at the Olympic Games in the men's 400 meter dash as former E.C. Glass High School standout David Verburg also made the U.S. team by virtue of his third place finishing effort of 44.82 in the Olympic Trials finals.
It still cannot be mentioned enough, David Verburg never won a single state title individually while running track as a high school athlete at E.C. Glass. Olympic dreams are certainly not reserved to high school phenoms and destined stars at early ages. Late bloomers and further development beyond high school and college leaves hope and opportunities for those like Verburg to become Olympians as well.
Half of the this year's U.S. Olympic men's 4x400 meter relay could be from the state of Virginia as well between Merritt and Verburg poised to keep the American reign of dominance in the relay event.
Bethel proud alumni Francena McCorory was seeking a spot as well on the Olympic team individually in the women's 400 finals and appeared to be in great position after running an aggressive first 300 meters. However, the high school indoor national record holder faded in the final 100 meters to finish ultimately 5th in a race won by a late surging Allyson Felix. However, McCorory still has hope and likely should make the Olympic team as part of the relay pool for the 4x400 meter relay.
Michael Cherry, a high school national record holder himself indoors in the 300 meter from his days at Oscar Smith in Chesapeake, had the unfortunate turn of events to run an incredible lifetime best of 44.81 in Saturday's semifinals of the men's 400, yet still unable to move onto the finals. His time ranked him 5th fastest overall, but finished 5th in an incredible fast heat as well.
The cruel part is that Cherry, now running for LSU collegiately, was originally qualified for the finals since Gil Roberts was running under protest of a false start and disqualified initially. However, Roberts appeal was heard and the USATF officials ruled in favor of him to be placed back in the finals to bump Cherry out of the 400 finals.
Upgrade to MileSplit Universal to Watch Driven: Lashawn Merritt on Flotrack!
Plenty of more athletes with ties or native to Virginia are competing this week in Oregon at the Olympic Trials to highlight, but make sure to watch Flotrack's two episode Driven series on one of our state's most accomplished Olympic stars in the 2016 Olympic Trials champion LaShawn Merritt below!
Upgrade your existing MileSplit account MileSplit Universal to gain access to watch both episodes!
Once upgraded to MileSplit Universal, click links below and login to watch Episode 1 & 2 of Driven: LaShawn Merritt.
