Photo by: GoDucks.com
Francis Kicks Her Way to Women’s 400 Meter Final
08/14/16 | Track and Field
RIO DE JANEIRO – Just when it seemed that a trip to the final of the Olympic women's 400 meters might be in jeopardy for Duck alum Phyllis Francis, the 2016 U.S runner-up found an extra gear coming off the final curve to win her semifinal heat and advance to Monday's Olympic final.
Francis rounded the final turn in fourth place but hit the afterburners down the homestretch to pass Oluwakemi Adekoya of Bahrain, Olha Zemlyak of Ukraine and finally Stephenie Ann McPherson of Jamaica before winning in 50.31. It was the second-fastest 400 meters of Francis' career.
Also Sunday, former Duck Zoe Buckman finished ninth for Australia in her 1,500 meter semifinal in 4:06.95 and did not advance.
The track and field portion of 2016 Summer Olympics continues with a school-record 17 current and former Ducks in Rio (11 on Team USA, three for Canada, and one each for Australia, Greece and Guatemala). This is the 20th straight Olympiad that the University of Oregon has been represented, a streak that dates to the 1932 Games in Los Angeles.
Goducks.com will provide a daily Olympics version of "What to Watch," as well as a recap of Ducks in competition through the remainder of the Games.
What to Watch – Monday, August 15
Monday could be the most anticipated day of the 2016 Olympics so far for Oregon fans with two current Duck track and field student-athletes making their Olympic debuts, and another medal opportunity in the women's 400 meters.
Both Deajah Stevens and Devon Allen will join an exclusive club of Oregon student-athletes who have competed in the Olympics as undergrads.
Allen begins competition in the men's 110 meter hurdles as he looks to write the final chapter to what has already been a storybook summer. Allen will be in heat four of Monday's prelims which start at 4:40 p.m. Pacific. He has the fastest time in his heat, but was assigned the outside lane – lane nine – for his heat.
The 2016 NCAA and U.S. 110 meter hurdles champion is undefeated in 12 110 hurdle races this year. Allen's 13.03 school record from the Olympic Trials final is the second fastest time in the world this year. The United States has won 19-of-27 gold medals in this event all-time, but only one since Allen Johnson won gold in 1996 (Johnson presented Allen with his Trials champion medal in Eugene).
Also competing in the 110 hurdles is Canadian Johnathan Cabral, the 2015 NCAA hurdles runner-up for Oregon as well as Allen's training partner. Cabral won the Canadian championship earlier this year and will run in heat two on Monday.
Their main competition will come from another first time Olympian in Jamaica's Omar McLeod, the 2016 IAAF World indoor champion at 60 hurdles and the fastest 110 hurdler in the world this year, 12.98. Also watch Orlando Ortega of Spain, third fastest in the world this year, and France's European champion Dimitri Bascou.
Both Stevens and former Duck Jenna Prandini will compete Monday morning in the preliminary heats of the women's 200 meters. Prandini is in heat two, while Stevens is in heat 6 as those races get underway at 5:35 a.m. Pacific.
Prandini, last year's U.S. 200 meter champion who out-leaned Allyson Felix at the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials to grab a qualifying spot for Rio, only advanced to the semifinals at last year's world championship. She will use that experience from 2015 this year, with her eyes set on the finals and an Olympic medal.
Stevens surprised many at the Olympic trials by making the team this year. She is the first active UO woman to compete at the Olympics in school history.
The lone medal opportunity for Oregon on Monday comes in the women's 400 meters at 6:45 p.m.
Phyllis Francis is one of at least six legitimate medal contenders in Monday's final. Both of her U.S teammates, Allyson Felix and Natasha Hastings, also advanced, as did two Jamaicans – Stephenie Ann McPherson and Shericka Jackson – and Shaunae Miller of the Bahamas. Francis will run in lane three on Monday with Felix next to her in lane four.
Francis was a four-time NCAA Champion at Oregon who ran a personal-best 49.94 at the 2016 U.S. Championships, and was a member of Team USA's silver medal 4x400 meter relay squad at the 2015 IAAF World Championships. Francis is also in the U.S. 4x400 meter relay pool.
Also Monday, Chris Winter will run the preliminary heats of the men's 3,000 meter steeplechase for Canada. Winter ran the second fastest time of his life in May, 8:27.18. He placed second at the Canadian championships to qualify for his first Olympic team.
Schedule – Monday, August 15
All times Pacific
5:35 a.m. Deajah Stevens (USA), Jenna Prandini (USA) Women's 200 Meters – Heats
6:25 a.m. Chris Winter (CAN) Men's Steeplechase – Semifinals
4:40 p.m. Devon Allen (USA), Johnathan Cabral (CAN) Men's 110 Meter Hurdles – Heats
6:45 p.m. Phyllis Francis (USA) Women's 400 Meters – FINAL
- www.GoDucks.com –
Francis rounded the final turn in fourth place but hit the afterburners down the homestretch to pass Oluwakemi Adekoya of Bahrain, Olha Zemlyak of Ukraine and finally Stephenie Ann McPherson of Jamaica before winning in 50.31. It was the second-fastest 400 meters of Francis' career.
Also Sunday, former Duck Zoe Buckman finished ninth for Australia in her 1,500 meter semifinal in 4:06.95 and did not advance.
The track and field portion of 2016 Summer Olympics continues with a school-record 17 current and former Ducks in Rio (11 on Team USA, three for Canada, and one each for Australia, Greece and Guatemala). This is the 20th straight Olympiad that the University of Oregon has been represented, a streak that dates to the 1932 Games in Los Angeles.
Goducks.com will provide a daily Olympics version of "What to Watch," as well as a recap of Ducks in competition through the remainder of the Games.
What to Watch – Monday, August 15
Monday could be the most anticipated day of the 2016 Olympics so far for Oregon fans with two current Duck track and field student-athletes making their Olympic debuts, and another medal opportunity in the women's 400 meters.
Both Deajah Stevens and Devon Allen will join an exclusive club of Oregon student-athletes who have competed in the Olympics as undergrads.
Allen begins competition in the men's 110 meter hurdles as he looks to write the final chapter to what has already been a storybook summer. Allen will be in heat four of Monday's prelims which start at 4:40 p.m. Pacific. He has the fastest time in his heat, but was assigned the outside lane – lane nine – for his heat.
The 2016 NCAA and U.S. 110 meter hurdles champion is undefeated in 12 110 hurdle races this year. Allen's 13.03 school record from the Olympic Trials final is the second fastest time in the world this year. The United States has won 19-of-27 gold medals in this event all-time, but only one since Allen Johnson won gold in 1996 (Johnson presented Allen with his Trials champion medal in Eugene).
Also competing in the 110 hurdles is Canadian Johnathan Cabral, the 2015 NCAA hurdles runner-up for Oregon as well as Allen's training partner. Cabral won the Canadian championship earlier this year and will run in heat two on Monday.
Their main competition will come from another first time Olympian in Jamaica's Omar McLeod, the 2016 IAAF World indoor champion at 60 hurdles and the fastest 110 hurdler in the world this year, 12.98. Also watch Orlando Ortega of Spain, third fastest in the world this year, and France's European champion Dimitri Bascou.
Both Stevens and former Duck Jenna Prandini will compete Monday morning in the preliminary heats of the women's 200 meters. Prandini is in heat two, while Stevens is in heat 6 as those races get underway at 5:35 a.m. Pacific.
Prandini, last year's U.S. 200 meter champion who out-leaned Allyson Felix at the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials to grab a qualifying spot for Rio, only advanced to the semifinals at last year's world championship. She will use that experience from 2015 this year, with her eyes set on the finals and an Olympic medal.
Stevens surprised many at the Olympic trials by making the team this year. She is the first active UO woman to compete at the Olympics in school history.
The lone medal opportunity for Oregon on Monday comes in the women's 400 meters at 6:45 p.m.
Phyllis Francis is one of at least six legitimate medal contenders in Monday's final. Both of her U.S teammates, Allyson Felix and Natasha Hastings, also advanced, as did two Jamaicans – Stephenie Ann McPherson and Shericka Jackson – and Shaunae Miller of the Bahamas. Francis will run in lane three on Monday with Felix next to her in lane four.
Francis was a four-time NCAA Champion at Oregon who ran a personal-best 49.94 at the 2016 U.S. Championships, and was a member of Team USA's silver medal 4x400 meter relay squad at the 2015 IAAF World Championships. Francis is also in the U.S. 4x400 meter relay pool.
Also Monday, Chris Winter will run the preliminary heats of the men's 3,000 meter steeplechase for Canada. Winter ran the second fastest time of his life in May, 8:27.18. He placed second at the Canadian championships to qualify for his first Olympic team.
Schedule – Monday, August 15
All times Pacific
5:35 a.m. Deajah Stevens (USA), Jenna Prandini (USA) Women's 200 Meters – Heats
6:25 a.m. Chris Winter (CAN) Men's Steeplechase – Semifinals
4:40 p.m. Devon Allen (USA), Johnathan Cabral (CAN) Men's 110 Meter Hurdles – Heats
6:45 p.m. Phyllis Francis (USA) Women's 400 Meters – FINAL
- www.GoDucks.com –
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