FROM STAFF REPORTS

EUGENE, Ore. — Texas Tech’s Gil Roberts and Omo Osaghae didn’t come close to ending their college seasons the way they wanted.

But neither is wasting the opportunity to make amends.

Roberts advanced to the finals of the 400-meter dash at the U.S. outdoor track and field championships, running the third-fastest time (45.18 seconds) in the semifinals Friday at historic Hayward Field. Roberts, who finished second in his heat to Olympic gold medal hurdler Kerron Clement, is one of only two collegians in the 400 final.

That final unfolds at 8:02 p.m. CDT today and pits Roberts against some of the biggest names in American professional track and field: LaShawn Merritt, Clement and Darold Williamson, all Olympic gold medalists.

“No doubt, it’ll be the biggest race he’s ever been in,’’ Tech coach Wes Kittley said.

At stake for the sophomore from Oklahoma City is a spot on the U.S. team at the World Championships Aug. 15-23 in Berlin, Germany.
In most events, the top three make the national team, but Kittley said the top six quarter-milers will go so that the 1,600-meter relay team will have a pool of runners to use over three rounds of competition.

The U.S. outdoor meet, which features both the nation’s top pro and college athletes, continues through Sunday. Coverage of today’s competition is scheduled from 6:30-8:30 p.m. on ESPN (Suddenlink Cable channel 31). Coverage of Sunday’s events is set from 3-5 p.m. on NBC (channel 11, Suddenlink channel 3).

“Man, we’re excited,’’ Kittley said. “(Roberts) is going to be on national TV tomorrow night, so I’m anxious to see how he does. I think he’s going to run well.’’

Through the first two rounds of the 400, Roberts has shown no lingering effects from the balky quadriceps that caused him to pull up lame two weeks ago at the NCAA outdoor championships.

“Man, he looked good (Friday) and said he felt great,’’ Kittley said. “One of our greatest quarter-milers ever (Clement) just nipped him there, so I was real pleased with how easy he ran. He said he didn’t feel anything in his quad.’’

Four Tech athletes will compete on the weekend, including women’s hammer thrower Ozie Okolie and men’s shot putter Harrison Benjamin. Their events, both just one day, are Sunday afternoon.

Osaghae, like Roberts, was ranked No. 2 in the NCAA late in the college season. But he was disqualified in the Midwest Regional final because of a false start.

The junior from Monterey ran a 13.53 in his first-round heat of the 110-meter hurdles Friday, moving him into the semifinals at 5:40 p.m. CDT today. The best eight run in the finals a little less than three hours later.

“He didn’t look that great today, but he made the semis,’’ Kittley said. “It’s been over five weeks since he’s run (in a meet). It’s going to be tough for him to make the final, but I thought he competed well.’’

Tech women’s signee Shade Weygandt made the U.S. junior national team with a second-place finish in the pole vault. The three-time state champion from Mansfield cleared 13 feet, 111/4 inches, the second-best height of her career.

Former Meadow High School and South Plains College standout Clendon Henderson placed fifth out of 24 in the men’s discus. Among those he beat was Tech ex Jason Young, who was 10th.

Tech freshman Brandon Tucker took seventh in the junior men’s 110 hurdles, clocking 13.80 in the finals. The top three made the U.S. junior national team.

The week ended Friday for former Tech all-Americans Jonathan Johnson and Patience Knight. Johnson, the 2004 U.S. Olympic Trials champion in the 800 meters, finished 11th out of 15 runners in 1 minute, 49.14 seconds. Knight, whose Tech career just ended two weeks ago, placed 15th in the shot put with a best throw of 51 feet, 53/4 inches.