Rodgers Seventh in Olympic Trial Finals

June 29, 2008

Former Oklahoma Baptist University national champion Michael Rodgers captured seventh place in the finals of the U.S. Olympic Trials' 100 meters.

Rodgers had a personal best 10.01 running in lane one in the finals. Tyson Gay won the event, improving on his one-day old American record with a 9.68.

Walter Dix was second at Darvis Patton was third with a 9.84, followed by Travis Padgett at 9.85, Rodney Martin at 9.97, Leroy Dixon at 9.99, Rodgers, and Xavier Carter at 10.11.

Rodgers was the last person to qualify for the finals. He finished fourth in his semifinal heat and advanced with a 10.18.


It remains to be seen if Rodgers will be included on Team USA's six-man pool for the 4x100 relay. That field must include the Olympic qualifiers in the individual event - Gay, Dix and Patton. The rest is pretty much up to the relay coach.

According to the USATF, the decision to place athletes in the relay pool will be based on the Relay Coach's judgment of that athlete's ability to contribute to the success of the relay team. The Relay Coach will also take the following into consideration: 1) the athlete's ability to pass and receive the baton with either hand; 2) the athlete's ability to run the turn and/or straight leg; and 3) the athlete's availability and willingness to attend relay camps and practices 4) athlete's times run at the appropriate distances 5) the athlete's Olympic and World Championship relay experience.

Rodgers anchored OBU's national championship 4x100 relay team.

Rodgers, who led the Bison to the 2007 NAIA Outdoor Track and Field National Championship, ran the first quarterfinal heat Saturday, placing fifth in 10.07 seconds. Rodgers was in the same heat as Tyson Gay, who won the heat with a then-American record 9.77 seconds.

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.