COLUMBIA, S.C. - (WLTX) Fifteen current and former Gamecocks are set to begin U.S. Olympic Trials Thursday at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore.
The 11-day event will see over 1,000 athletes compete for the right to represent Team USA at the 2012 Olympic Games in London from July 27 to August 12.
The three current Gamecocks making the trip to Eugene are Clayton Gravesande (Somerset, N.J. - 400m), Jarrod Hutchen (Douglasville, Ga. - long jump) and Joshua Suttmeier (Pattenburg, N.J. - javelin).
In addition to the current Gamecocks, 12 of the most respected professional athletes will also represent the University of South Carolina track and field program as former Gamecocks hitting the track over the next 11 days, a list of athletes that combined include six former Olympians, 26 total NCAA titles and 117 All-America citations.
Former Gamecock men competing are Leroy Dixon, Johnny Dutch, Jason Richardson and Terrence Trammell, and former Gamecock women competing are Lisa Barber, Miki Barber, Lashinda Demus, Natasha Hastings, Shayla Mahan, Tiffany Ross-Williams, Angela Rummans and Shalonda Solomon.
CURRENT GAMECOCKS
Clayton Gravesande - Men's 400m - Sophomore in 2011-12 - 3x All-American
Jarrod Hutchen - Men's Long Jump - Junior in 201-12 - All-America honors this season
Joshua Suttmeier - Men's Javelin - Freshman in 2011-12 - School record holder and All-American his freshman season
FORMER GAMECOCKS
Lisa Barber - Women's 100m - 14x All-American at South Carolina from 1999-02
Miki Barber - Women's 100m - 20x All-American at South Carolina from 1999-03
Lashinda Demus - Women's 400m Hurdles - 11x All-American at South Carolina from 2002-04
Leroy Dixon - Men's 100m - 2x All-American at South Carolina from 2005-06
Johnny Dutch - Men's 400m Hurdles - 8x All-American at South Carolina from 2008-10
Natasha Hastings - Women's 200m, 400m - 10x All-American at South Carolina from 2005-07
Shayla Mahan - Women's 200m - 4x All-American at South Carolina from 2008-11
Jason Richardson - Men's100m Hurdles - 7x All-American at South Carolina from 2005-09
Tiffany Ross-Williams - Women's 400m Hurdles - 12x All-American at South Carolina from 2002-05
Angela Rummans - Women's Pole Vault - Hilton Head, S.C. native competed as a freshman in 2011
Shalonda Solomon - Women's 100m, 200m - 11x All-American at South Carolina from 2005-07
Terrence Trammell - Men's 100m Hurdles - 13x All-American at South Carolina from 1998-00