TOKYO, Japan — UPDATE: Keturah Orji registered one of the 12 best jumps of qualifying heats at 14.26m to advance to the final in the women's triple jump. Fellow UGA Bulldog Jasmine Moore registered a distance of 13.76m, 12th in her qualifying heat.
In a devastating turn, UGA's Elija Godwin and the USA mixed 4x400m relay team was disqualified after posting one of the best times of qualifying over a reported exchange of the baton outside the allowed zone. (UPDATE 2: The team has in fact been reinstated and will compete in Saturday's final, because the runner who took the handoff outside the zone was evidently placed on the wrong start line by an official.)
Original story below
The Peach State's vaunted swimmers may have wrapped up their time in Tokyo, but Georgia will continue to be well-represented early Friday.
Already on Thursday night, Javianne Oliver advanced out of the qualifying heats in the women's 100m, finishing second in her group, and Kenny Selmon finished second as well in his heat group in the men's 400m hurdles.
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Early Friday, Georgia's track competitors will look to continue that successful start. You'll be able to see:
- Keturah Orji, a former UGA Bulldog, and Jasmine Moore, a current Dawg, in the women's triple jump qualifying. You can watch that event starting at 6:05 a.m. here.
- UGA's Elija Godwin, a Covington native, will be in action in the mixed 4x400m relay first round. That's set for 7 a.m. and you can watch it here.
More, at 20, is the youngest on Team USA's track and field team.
Like many other 20-year-olds, Moore started college amid a global pandemic. But unlike many, by the end her sophomore year, she earned a spot on the Olympic team.
Moore said she was excited she could represent Team USA, and making it to the finals would be the icing on top of her Olympic debut.
Oliver's hometown is Monroe, Georgia. According to Team USA's website, she graduated from Monroe Area High School before attending the University of Kentucky.
Godwin's story is one of survival. During a track practice in 2019, he fell on to a javelin. The spear pierced through his body, through his ribcage, through his lung -- just inches away from his heart.
He never used his injury as an excuse but instead as motivation. Two years after the incident that almost ended his Olympic ambitions and his life, he makes his Olympic debut.
