AU IN THE OLYMPICS: Moncur gets 18th AU medal of games

Special to the News

Published: August 23, 2008

BEIJING — Track and field competition at the Olympic Games concluded Saturday, with the exception of the men’s marathon, as former Auburn Tigers added a fifth medal to their count.

Avard Moncur of the Bahamas collected a silver medal in the men’s 4x400-meter relay, as the Bahamas finished second to the United States in that event.

Moncur did not run in the finals, but did run in Friday’s prelims and helped his squad reach the finals, which qualifies him for a medal. The Bahamas had a time of 2:58.03 in the finals, edging Russia, which finished in 2:58.06, for second. The Bahamian team had a time of 2:59.88 in the prelims.

Another former Tiger, Sanjay Ayre, ran the third leg of the 4x400-meter relay finals for Jamaica on Saturday, but his team finished eighth with a time of 3:01.45.

The five medals earned by former Auburn track and field athletes is the most in school history, as the Tigers had never before earned more than one track and field medal at an Olympic Games.

Added to the 13 medals won by former Auburn swimmers, former Auburn athletes set a school record with 18 medals earned at the Games.