More of my updates on Longhorn/Austin track & field athletes in Beijing: Yesterday, former Longhorn Michelle Carter, finished 15th (and last) in the women’s shot put final. Her throw of 58 feet, 2 1/2 inches was well below the 60-8 that she threw in that morning’s qualifying round and the personal best of 61-10 1/4 that put her on the Olympic team earlier this summer. The Olympics are a family affair for Carter: Her father, Michael, was the silver medalist in the shot at the 1984 Los Angeles games, and later went on to be an all-pro nose tackle for the San Francisco 49ers.
In the women’s 400 meters, the favorite in the event, Sanya Richards, easily won her opening heat in 50.54 seconds. The semifinals are today. Former Longhorns will also be in other events today: Jamaica’s Melaine Walker will run her opening heat in the 400 meters hurdles, and for the United States, Andra Manson will compete in the qualification round of the men’s high jump and Leonel Manzano has his semifinal in the men’s 1,500 meters.
This article appears in August 15 • 2008.