Former Tiger Shawn Crawford Runner-Up in 200m Dash at U.S. Olympic Trials

July 6, 2008

Eugene, OR – Former Clemson sprinter Shawn Crawford punched his ticket to Beijing, China to represent Team USA in the 200m dash at the Olympic Games. The 2004 Olympic gold medalist in the event, Crawford was runner-up by a nose in Sunday’s 200m final to Walter Dix.

Crawford ran the third-best time in the world this year with a 19.86, but a photo finish determined Dix to be the winner by a mere five thousandths of a second. He nearly repeated his U.S. Olympic Trials championship in the event, which he also won in 2004.

Crawford is the second men’s track & field athlete to make the U.S. team that will travel to China in August. Junior sprinter Travis Padgett placed fourth in the 100m dash last weekend, but will be part of America’s 4x100m relay team and an alternate in the 100m as well.

The Van Wyck, SC native competed at Clemson from 1997-2000. He won three NCAA championships in the 200m dash while with the Tiger program.