University of Missouri
USATF Olympic Trials
Derrick Peterson, Athens Bound
7/12/2004 12:00:00 AM | Track & Field
July 12, 2004
SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Tiger post-collegian Derrick Peterson (Jonesboro, Ga.) ran for a personal-best time of 1:45.08 to finish third in the 800-meter run at the U.S. Olympic Trials earning a spot on Team USA and traveling to Athens, Greece, for the 25th Games of the Olympiad. The 2000 graduate of Missouri once again ran a "come from behind race" to clinch a spot in the top three.
Peterson entered the trials as the third best in the nation for the year, with his season-best time of 1:46.46. In this race, Peterson was in third place in the first half-lap, traveling to fifth by the end of the first 400 meters. In the final 120 meters, Peterson was back in sixth place. Once again, Peterson used a big kick to excel him past Jesse O'Connell and 2004 World Indoor Champion, David Krummenacker to reach the third place spot and kept closing in on the top two, Nike's Khadevis Robinson and the winner, Texas Tech's Jonathan Johnson.
"This was the most nerve-racking race of my life," Peterson said "I started the race a little more aggressive than I usually do. I was the most comfortable when I crossed the finish line and always stayed poised on it until the end of the race."
Peterson's time of 1:45.08 was a new personal best by one-tenth of a second. His previous best of 1:45.18 was at the five years ago at the 1999 NCAA Championships in Durham, N.C.
"We've got a good team, and I can't be more excited to be going to Athens."
At the 2000 Olympic Trials, Peterson missed the final round by one-hundredth of a second.
"Coming into the 2000 Trials, I was expected to win the finals," Peterson added. "For a long time that semifinal haunted me, but once I started to run again and get into the groove, I was confident that I could come back and get to the Olympics in '04. But, just keep in mind, I'm just getting started. I'll celebrate tonight, but start getting ready for Athens tomorrow."
"Obviously, I couldn't be more excited for Derrick," said Jared Wilmes, Missouri Assistant Coach. "Derrick worked extremely hard over the past years, and I am so thrilled for the guy. He ran a classic Derrick Peterson race; he was boxed-in for a while and came through and broke into his kick right when he planned and everything worked out for the best."
Also on Monday, former Tiger, Ray Hughes qualified for the final in the 3000-meter steeplechase. His time of 8:33.33 gave him a sixth-place finish in his heat, and Hughes advanced to the Thursday's final based on his time against the other semifinal heat.
The Leasburg, Mo., native ended his collegiate track days at Missouri in 1998 and since has signed a professional contract with Nike and is living and training in Eugene, Ore., training with National Hall of Fame Coach, Oregon's Bill Dellinger.
The Trials will take a two-day break, but will return Thursday. Tiger senior Janae Strickland will throw in the qualifying round of the women's shot put and Ray Hughes will run in the steeplechase final.
For more information and live coverage, visit mutigers.com.
Men 800 Meter Run
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World: W 1:41.11 8/24/1997 Wilson Kipketer, KEN
American: A 1:42.60 8/28/1985 Johnny Gray, Santa Monica T
Stadium: 1:45.67 7/23/2000 Mark Everett, unattached
Name Year Team Finals
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Finals
1 Jonathan Johnson Texas Tech 1:44.77
2 Khadevis Robinson Nike 1:44.91
3 Derrick Peterson adidas 1:45.08
4 David Krummenacker adidas 1:45.67
5 Jesse O'Connell Unattached 1:46.55
6 Jebreh Harris Holyfield Intl. 1:46.66
7 Samuel Burley Asics 1:46.84
8 Jacob Koczman Indiana Invaders 1:47.06
