August 27, 2004
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Release by Mike Marzolf
Photo available upon request

For More Information
Lyles Lashley, coach (620) 792-9370
Mike Marzolf, SID, (620) 792-9310
marzolfm@bartonccc.edu

Brew, USA advance to 4x400m relay finals
Wearing the label the prohibitive favorites, the United States men’s 4x400m relay played just the part in the semifinal round of the event with the top time of the round to move into the finals tomorrow. The USA and former Barton County Community College track star Derrick Brew easily won their heat at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens in quest for a gold medal. The USA has won the past 5 gold medals in the event at the Olympics and 10 of the past 12.

Brew is going for his 2nd medal of the XXVIII Olympiad after collecting a bronze medal in a USA 1-2-3 finish in the men’s 400m dash. Brew was the only one of the individual medallist to run on the relay in the opening round, showing the depth of the USA team. Brew was joined by Kelly Willie, Andrew Rock, and Darrold Williamson in the semifinal round.

The quarter finished Heat 2 with a time of 2:59.30, well ahead of 2nd place Nigeria with a 3:01.6. The winner Heat 1 was Great Britain in 3:20.40.

"I am very satisfied with the time we set,” Brew said in a post race press conference. “Tomorrow evening we will run with an even better team, so I am very confident we will win the gold."

The USA team will run out of lane 4 in the finals, which will take place Saturday at 2:35 pm. They will be flanked by Nigeria and Great Britain. Jeremy Wariner and Otis Harris – the gold and silver medal winners in the 400m – are expected to participate in the finals of the event as the USA will attempt to break the Olympic record of 2:55.74 and the world record time of 2:54.2.

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