St. Augustine's Adrien Findlay Makes Olympic Trials

May 4, 2004

By Donald Hunt
Philadelphia Tribune Staff Writer

George Williams, St. Augustine’s College head coach and upcoming U.S. Olympic track and field coach, has some good news for all the family and friends of Adrian Findlay in Philly. Findlay, a 5-foot-9 junior from St. Augustine’s has qualified for the Olympic Trials in Sacramento, Calif., this summer.

The former Overbrook High star ran a 49.92 in the 400-meter hurdles at the Texas Relays this month. Findlay’s time was good enough to earn a trip to the trials. Williams believes Findlay has a chance to run for the United States or for Jamaica his native country.

“Adrian is going to the Olympic Trials,” Williams said. “I’m really happy for him. He has run extremely well for us. I told him if he ran a 49 in the Olympics that could win him a silver medal. I would like to see him run for me. If not, I’m sure he can run for his country. We’ll just have to wait and see.”

Findlay is coming off a solid performance at the Penn Relays. He took third place running 50.58 in the 400-meter hurdles. Findlay’s teammate Bershawn Jackson, a freshman hurdler, won the event clocking a 49.38.

“He ran pretty well at the Penn Relays,” Williams said. “He lost to Bershawn, who had a great meet. But Adrian let the guy from Florida (Kerron Clement) sneak into second place. Overall, I thought Adrian and Bershawn did very well against some good competition.”

Findlay has been a major standout in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association. He has three consecutive CIAA championships in the 400-meter hurdles. A year ago, he captured All-American honors at the NCAA Division II championship meet.

“We’re very fortunate to have a kid like him,” Williams said. “He’s not only a great hurdler, but an outstanding student. He has a 3.5 grade point average.

“We’ve been lucky to get some good kids out of Philadelphia to come down here (to Raleigh, N.C.). We had Deworski Odom (Overbrook High) a few years ago. Deworski was one of our best athletes. Adrian is on that same path. He’s a good kid with a bright future.”