Aug. 19, 2008

2008 Summer Olympics - Track and Field Schedule and Results

BEIJING - Three former George Mason track standouts had excellent performances among the best in the world and have advanced to the semifinals of the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. Richard Phillips and Maurice Wignall both advanced in the men's 110-meter hurdles, while Cydonie Mothersill reached the semifinals of the women's 200-meter dash.

Phillips and Wignall, both competing for their native Jamaica, had outstanding performances in the first round of competition, as the two crossed the line in 13.60 and 13.61 seconds, respectively, on Monday at the Beijing National Stadium. Those times put them among the 32 athletes who advanced to the second round on Tuesday. American David Oliver posted the fastest time in the round of 13.30.

In round two, Wignall recorded the fastest time in the third heat, winning the race in 13.36 and moving on to the semifinals. Racing in the first heat, Phillips finished in 13.48, fifth among the eight competitors in the heat and earned one of the final time qualifications. Oliver again posted the fastest time, finishing in 13.16 in the fourth and final heat.

Mothersill, an All-American with Mason in 1999 who holds the school record in the 200-meter dash, posted the third-fastest time in the first round of the 200-meter dash to move on to round two. Mothersill is competing as a member of the Cayman Islands team. American Muna Lee, also running in the second heat with Mothersill, ran the top time of round one, a mark of 22.71.

Competing in the first heat, she finished fourth (22.83) which earned her the first time qualification into the semifinal round. Jamaica's Sherone Simpson ran the fastest time of the round, finishing in 22.60 in the fourth and final heat.

Phillips will start the first semifinal in the 110-meter hurdles in lane three, while Wignall will compete in the second race in lane seven. The event is set to take place at 9:39 p.m. in Beijing on Wednesday evening (9:39 a.m. EDT). Mothersill will compete in Wednesday's second semifinal race out of lane three which is set for 10:04 p.m. that evening.