June 28, 2004
LOS ANGELES - Tiger post-collegian Derrick Peterson ran for the best time of his season late Sunday night at the Occidental College Twilight Distance Qualifier in Los Angeles. His time of 1:46.46 in the 800-meter run was good enough for a fourth-place finish in the race versus some tough American competition.
Peterson moves to fifth on the performers list in America for 2004. His time of 1:45.69 last July in the Maine Distance Festival gave him an Olympic Trial "A" standard qualifier as well as an Olympic "A" qualifying time. Peterson's previous season best came at the Home Depot Invitational in Carson, Calif., where he ran the 800 in 1:47.25.
Peterson qualified for the 2000 Olympic Trials, moved to the semifinal round, missing the final by one-hundredth of a second. The two-time NCAA Champion and current collegiate American record holder in the indoor 800 meters, Peterson won all eight Big 12 Championships possible in his career in the 800 including two on his home track in Columbia, Mo.
Derrick, along with seven other current and former Tigers, will compete at the USATF Olympic Team Trial in two weeks in Sacramento. More information on the individuals involved and their time schedules will be released within a day or two.
For more coverage of Missouri Track and Field's California run, visit mutigers.com
Men 800 Meter Run ================================================================ Name Year Team Finals ================================================================ 1 Khadevz Robinson Nike 1:45.30 2 Jonathon Johnson Texas Tech 1:45.76 3 Charlie Gruber Nike 1:46.30 4 Derrick Peterson adidas 1:46.46 5 Jeff Delong Nike Farm Team 1:46.68 6 Michael Stember Nike Farm Team 1:46.92 7 Bryan Woodward Nike Farm Team 1:47.17 8 Brian Rue Unattached 1:47.21 9 Floyd Thompson Santa Monica TC 1:47.24