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Track and Field
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University of Oklahoma Athletics
McFarlane Wins Silver in Olympic 400-Meter Hurdles
August 26, 2004 | Track and Field
NORMAN, Okla. Former OU sprinter Danny McFarlane, who took up the hurdles after the 2000 Olympic Games, became an Olympic silver medalist Thursday night in the final of the 400-meter intermediate hurdles during the Games of the 28th Olympiad in Athens, Greece.
McFarlane, competing for Jamaica, finished with a 48.11 to finish second to Felix Sanchez. Sanchez, competing for the Dominican Republic, won the gold medal with a 47.63.
Naman Keita of France took the bronze with a 48.26 and James Carter of the United State was fourth with a 48.58.
McFarlane had advanced to the final with victories in his heat of the first round and in the semifinals. He won the prelim heat with a career best mark of 48.35. He lowered that mark in the semifinal with a 48.00. His time in the prelims was the best time in the first round while his semifinal time was the second best mark, behind the time by Sanchez.
McFarlane won the 400-meter intermediate hurdle titles at the 2003 and the 2004 Jamaican National Senior Championships. McFarlane, a member of the Jamaican Olympic team in 2000, finished eighth in the 400-meter dash and earned a bronze medal as a member of the 1600-meter relay team in 2000. He made the switch from the sprint events to the hurdles over the last two years. McFarlane was an eight-time All-American while competing for the Sooners, finishing his OU career in 1997.
Another former Sooner sprinter Michael Blackwood, an eighth place finisher in the 400-meter final on Monday, returns to the track Friday. He will run on Jamaica's 1600-meter relay in the first round which is set to begin at 4 p.m. Athens time. Friday afternoon. The final set for 10:25 p.m. Saturday. Blackwood earned a bronze medal in the 2000 Olympics as a member of Jamaica's 1600-meter relay.
Blackwood ended his two-year OU career in 2000 after winning the Big 12 title in the outdoor 400 with his school record time of 44.69. That was the best time in the world in the 400 at the time. He finished the 2002 season ranked number one in the world in the 400 and won the 2002 and 2003 Jamaican Senior National titles in the 400. He was second in the 2004 Jamaican Senior National meet.
Blackwood recorded a 45.55 in the 400 final. He had the fourth best time in the semifinals in the 400 with a 45.00 after recording the third best time in the first round with a 45.23.
For another former Sooner, Laverne Jones, her Olympic competition ended on Monday after she was edged at the finish line in the quarterfinals of the 200. Jones missed advancing to the final by .01 seconds, finishing with a 23.08 which ranked 16th overall. The last at-large time to qualify was a 23.07. Jones also advanced to the quarterfinals in the 100, eventually finishing 23rd in that event with an 11.44. A six-time All-American for the Sooners and school record holder in four events, Jones became the first woman from the Sooner track and field program to qualify for the Olympic Games. She carried the flag for the Virgin Islands during the opening ceremonies on August 13.
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