News release from Texas A&M Athletics:
PARIS – Ten former Texas A&M track & field standouts are set to compete at the 2024 Olympic Games representing four different countries starting Friday at the Stade de France.
The Aggies are well represented on the track and in the field at the Paris Olympics, as they have 10 former students at the Games who will represent the United States, Algeria, Grenada and Jamaica. A&M shows its ability to develop the best athletes in the world, as it is one of 12 schools in the nation to have 10 or more track & field athletes on show.
There is plenty of experience at the highest level in this group, as a collective they account for three Olympic medals, 19 individual NCAA titles and the majority played a crucial role in adding to the Maroon & White’s nine NCAA team titles.
Aggies at the Olympics
Bryce Deadmon enters his second Olympics for the United States as the most decorated medalist in the group, as won a pair of medals in the 2020 Tokyo Games. He was a part of the gold-medal winning men’s 4x400m relay team and secured bronze in the mixed 4x400m relay. He placed fourth in the men’s 400m at U.S. Olympic Trials, securing him a spot in the relay pool.
Fred Kerley returns for his second Games representing the Red, white and Blue in the 100m after claiming a silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics in the event. He ensured his second-place finish at the last games, crossing the line in 9.84 seconds. He qualified third at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials with a time of 9.88.
Maggie Malone-Hardin continued to dominate the women’s U.S. javelin scene, qualifying for her third Olympics in outstanding fashion. She recorded a toss of 64.58m/211-10 on her opening throw of the event which secured the national title and her spot on the plane to Paris, as she now looks to build on her 10th-place finish at the last games.
Brandon Miller punched his first Olympic ticket in the 800m following an outstanding showing at the U.S. trials. He finished third in the final in 1:43.97 and was one of the two athletes to run sub 1:44 twice during the trials.
Jacob Wooten added another spot in the field for Team USA with a second-place finish in the pole vault at the qualifying event. He competed in a stacked field and after a seasons-best clearance of 5.87m/19-3 he secured his spot.
Shamier Little was the final addition from A&M to the United States team, as she travels to the Games as a part of the 400m relay pool. She finished ninth in the women’s 400m final in 50.96 to make the team.
Lamara Distin’s record-breaking final year for the Aggies culminated in her qualifying for the Jamaican team in the high jump, as she soared over 1.89m/6-2.25 at trials to ensure her first Olympic berth. She concluded her collegiate career breaking the NCAA indoor high jump record, as she became the first woman to clear 2.00m/6-6.75 on her way to SEC gold.
Charokee Young punched her ticket to Paris following a seventh-place finish in the women’s 400m final at Jamaican trials, crossing the line in 52.64. She is in the relay pools for the Black, Yellow and Green.
Lindon Victor qualified for his third Olympic Games representing Grenada in the men’s decathlon. He previously finished 16th and 7th at the Rio and Tokyo Games, respectively. Victor set his personal best and national record at the 2023 World Championships where he won the bronze medal with 8,756 points.
The final member of the Aggie Olympic team is Yasser Mohammad Tahar Triki, as he reached his second Games representing Algeria in the triple jump. Earlier this year, Triki displayed his skills among the world’s best, placing second in the World Indoor Championships with a leap of 17.35m/56-11.25.