#59 Michtrack at the Olympics - Cockrell Gets Silver!

Inside This Issue

• Cockrell Grabs Silver!

• Crittenden Makes 6th in 110 Final

• Other Things

Cockrell Grabs Silver In World Record Race!

Anna Cockrell produced the race of her life when it mattered tonight, blistering a lifetime best 51.87 to finish behind Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone’s stunning World Record of 50.37. In doing so, she beat Femke Bol of the Netherlands, who has only been beaten once since the Tokyo Olympics, and that was by Sydney.

Cockrell’s is the second medal won by a woman with Michigan roots. East Lansing’s Judi Brown won the silver medal in 1984. On the men’s side, Michigan has had only one Olympic competitor, Rex Cawley, who won the gold medal in 1964.

The time of 51.87 makes Cockrell, who attended Detroit Country Day Middle School, the fourth-fastest woman of all-time, after McLaughlin-Levrone, Bol, and former WR-holder Dalilah Muhammad.

Cockrell’s comments afterwards:

“I’m just overwhelmed. I’m overcome. There’s not much you can say when you have a PB and you win a medal. It all came together in the best possible way. My coach just told me to have fun, be myself, go out there and be Beyonce.

“I was singing ‘Love On Top’ in the call room, so shout out to Beyonce. I’m really happy. I’m ugly crying, but I’m really happy.

“It means everything. This has been a dream that’s been years in the making. I’ve moved multiple times, I moved to Texas, I live in Arkansas now. I sacrificed a lot, my family has sacrificed a lot. 

"So, to do this today, when it counts the most, on the biggest of stages, with my whole family here, we’re all over there crying our eyes out. I’m truly a talker, and I have no words. That’s how you know it means a lot.” 

Crittenden Finishes 6th

Freddie Crittenden, the pride of Utica High, finished 6th in the finals of the 110 hurdles in 13.32. It was a bittersweet race for the journeyman hurdler, who ran the second-fastest time in the world with his 12.93 at the Olympic Trials in finishing 2nd to Grant Holloway.

Tonight, Holloway won with 12.99, and longtime rival Daniel Roberts got the silver in 13.09, the same time as bronze medalist Rasheed Broadbell of Jamaica.

Crittenden qualified for the semis through the repechage round, saying that he needed a couple days more to prepare because of an aggravated adductor. No word yet on whether he felt he was back to 100% in time for the final. In any case, look for him to race the rest of the season on the circuit, and have plenty of chances for more fast times.

Other Things

Tomorrow: In the morning session, look for Dubem Amene to run on Nigeria’s 4×4 team—though he is not confirmed yet. Also competing in the morning will be Hobbs Kessler in the 800 semis and Grace Stark and Cindy Sember in the 100 hurdle semis. There are no Michiganders competing in tomorrow’s evening session.

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