Tony McQuay Caps Comeback Story With USA 400m Championship
Saturday, June 25, 2011 | Track and Field
Sophomore Florida sprinter Tony McQuay (Riviera Beach, Fla.) capped his road to recovery on Saturday by winning the U.S. Championship in the men's 400-meter dash at the USA Championships hosted by the University of Oregon at its historic Hayward Field.
McQuay, who went down with an injury during the 2011 NCAA Indoor Championships, spent much of the outdoor campaign rehabbing and preparing to come back on the track. McQuay's second-place finish at the 2011 NCAA Outdoor Championships two weeks ago indicated his full recovery heading into the USA Championships.
“It was really tough,” McQuay said of his injury. “I was down on myself and I didn't know how long it would take for me to get back into my rhythm. But my coaches and trainers got me healthy real quick.”
McQuay completed his comeback journey on Saturday, clocking a time of 44.68 to capture the 400-meter dash event over a number of professional athletes, including Jeremy Wariner, Greg Nixon and former Gator Calvin Smith. He has earned a spot on the U.S. team to compete at the IAAF World Championships in Athletics in Daegu, South Korea, Aug. 27-Sept. 4, 2011.
“This isn't something I expected in my wildest dreams,” McQuay said. “I just tried to stay relaxed and not get nervous. My coaches just told me to keep doing what I've been doing.”
Junior jumper Will Claye (Phoenix, Ariz.) placed second in the men's long jump on Saturday after finishing as the triple jump runner-up on Thursday. He has qualified for the IAAF World Championships in both events. He posted a mark of 8.19m/26-10.50 (+3.2) in the long jump.
“It's a blessing that I get to double at Worlds,” Claye said. “I am just going to go back to Florida and train hard for a couple of months and then, hopefully do something big at Worlds. I can't wait to represent my country.”
Teammate Christian Taylor (Fayetteville, Ga.), who on Thursday captured the USA Championship in the men's triple jump, placed fourth in the long jump with a leap of 8.07m/26-5.75 (+4.0).
Freshman middle-distance runner Cory McGee (Pass Christian, Miss.) won the U.S. Women's Junior Championship in the 1,500-meter run, clocking a winning time of 4:21.91.
Senior sprinter Terrell Wilks (New Haven, Conn.) advanced in the men's 200-meter dash, placing 15th overall in the preliminaries in a time of 20.62 (+3.3). The semifinal round of that event takes place at 3:10 p.m. ET Sunday.
Freshman thrower Fawn Miller, the 2011 Southeastern Conference women's javelin champion, placed third overall in the junior women's javelin competition Saturday with a toss of 46.69m/153-2.
Freshman sprinter Ebony Eutsey (Miami, Fla.) finished fourth in the finals of the junior women's 400-meter dash, charting a time of 53.20.
Also competing at the USA Championships, former Gator sprinter Calvin Smith (Lutz, Fla.) was seventh overall in the finals of the men's 400-meter dash in a time of 45.39.
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USA CHAMPIONSHIPS :: JUNE 23-26, 2011 :: EUGENE, ORE.
SATURDAY, JUNE 25, 2011
Men's Long Jump – 3:25 p.m. ET
2. Will Claye – 8.19m/26-10.50 (+3.2)
4. Christian Taylor – 8.07m/26-5.75 (+4.0)
Men's 400m Final – 5:08 p.m. ET
1. Tony McQuay – 44.68
Women's Junior 1,500m Final – 6:05 p.m. ET
1. Cory McGee – 4:21.91
Men's 200m First Round – 6:25 p.m. ET
15. Terrell Wilks – 20.62 (+3.3) q
Women's Junior Javelin – 7:50 p.m. ET
3. Fawn Miller – 46.69m/153-2
Women's Junior 400m Final – 9 p.m. ET
4. Ebony Eutsey – 53.20
FORMER GATORS COMPETING ON SATURDAY AT THE USA CHAMPIONSHIPS
Men's 400m Final – 5:08 p.m. ET
7. Calvin Smith – 45.39
--. Kerron Clement – DNS
