University of Georgia Athletics
Bulldogs Begin Action In Rio
August 12, 2016 | Track & Field
RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil --- Georgia had one current and two former student-athletes start their events during the first day of track and field competition at the 2016 Olympic Games.
Rising senior Kendell Williams, who is a five-time NCAA champion for the Bulldogs, has scored 3,715 points and is in 14th place in the two-day heptathlon competition. She is within 100 points of five competitors ahead of her, including fellow American Barbara Nwaba who is in 11th (3,777).
Former Bulldogs Jenny Dahlgren (hammer throw) and Charles Grethen (800 meters) also battled in the opening rounds of their events in the first of nine days of track action featuring current or former Georgia team members.
Williams, a native of Marietta, Ga., started her seven events with a fourth-place finish in the 100m hurdles. Running out of the fourth, final and fastest heat, Williams clocked a 13.04 for 1,118 points.
In the high jump, Williams used a clearance of 6 feet on her third and final try to add 1,016 points to her tally. She began the event with first attempt clearances of 5-7.25, 5-8.50 and 5-9.75. Williams then went over the bar at 5-10.75 on her second try before the 6-0 clearance. She was in sixth place with 2,134 points at the halfway point of day one.
Williams returned during the evening session in the shot put and struggled to a 29th-place finish for 609 points. She launched her opening throw 36-9.50, but fouled on her final two attempts. Williams slipped to 18th place overall with 2,743 points.
To complete her first day, Williams sped to a 24.09 in the 200m for 972 points. She has the long jump, javelin and 800m left to complete her fourth heptathlon of the year.
Dahlgren competed in her fourth Olympic Games in the hammer throw for Argentina. The collegiate record holder in the event watched her first attempt travel 206-9 and followed that up with a pair of fouls in the qualifying round. Dahlgren finished 27th overall to complete her competition.
Grethen also raced in the opening round of the 800m in Rio on Friday. Grethen, who was competing in his first Olympics for Luxembourg, completed his two laps in 1:48.93 to take fifth in his heat and 38th overall. While he briefly surged into the automatic qualifying spot of second in his heat on the final straightaway, Grethen will not advance to the event's semifinals after slipping down in the standings.
Updates from Georgia's track and field and cross country teams can always be found on Twitter/Instagram (UGATrack) and Snapchat (ugatrack).
Bulldog Olympic Track & Field Schedule
Men's 100m: Cejhae Greene (Antigua - 1st Olympics), Saturday, Aug. 13, 7:30 a.m. (round 1)
Women's Triple Jump: Keturah Orji (USA - 1st Olympics), Saturday, Aug. 13, 7:40 a.m. (qualifying)
Women's 400m: Shaunae Miller (Bahamas - 2nd Olympics), Saturday, Aug. 13, 9:00 a.m. (round 1)
Heptathlon (women): Kendell Williams (USA - 1st Olympics), Saturday, Aug. 13, 9:45 a.m. (final three events - long jump, javelin, 800m)
Women's 400m: Shaunae Miller (Bahamas - 2nd Olympics), Sunday, Aug. 14, 6:35 p.m. (semifinals)
Women's Triple Jump: Keturah Orji (USA - 1st Olympics), Sunday, Aug. 14, 6:55 p.m. (finals)
Men's 100m: Cejhae Greene (Antigua - 1st Olympics), Sunday, Aug. 14, 7 p.m. (semifinals); 8:25 p.m. (finals)
Women's 400m: Shaunae Miller (Bahamas - 2nd Olympics), Monday, Aug. 15, 8:45 p.m. (finals)
Decathlon (men): Maicel Uibo, Karl Saluri (Estonia - 1st Olympics for each) Wednesday, Aug. 17, 7:30 a.m. (first five events - 100m, long jump, shot put, high jump, 400m)
Men's hammer: Kibwe Johnson (USA - 2nd Olympics), Wednesday, Aug. 17, 7:40 a.m. (qualifying)
Decathlon (men): Maicel Uibo, Karl Saluri (Estonia - 1st Olympics for each) Thursday, Aug. 18, 7:30 a.m. (final five events - 110m hurdles, discus, pole vault, javelin, 1500m)
Women's High Jump: Levern Spencer (St. Lucia - 3rd Olympics) & Leontia Kallenou (Cyprus - 1st Olympics), Thursday, Aug. 18, 8:00 a.m. (qualifying)
Men's hammer: Kibwe Johnson (USA - 2nd Olympics), Friday, Aug. 19, 7:05 p.m. (finals)
Women's High Jump: Levern Spencer (St. Lucia - 3rd Olympics) & Leontia Kallenou (Cyprus - 1st Olympics), Saturday, Aug. 20, 6:30 p.m. (finals)
Players Mentioned
