Five AU track alums make Bahamian Olympic team

Special to the News
Published: July 18, 2008

Five former Auburn track athletes will be competing for the Bahamas in the Beijing Olympics, the Bahamas Olympic Association announced Friday.

A total of 12 AU track and field alums are competing in the Olympics for four different countries.

The Bahamas men’s team will feature four former Tigers, including Avard Moncur (4x400-meter relay), Leevan Sands (triple jump), Shamar Sands (110-meter hurdles) and Donald Thomas (high jump). The women’s team will be represented by Timicka Clarke (100 meters).

The five Tigers on the Bahamian squad bring the total number of former Auburn track and field letterwinners competing in the Olympic Games to 12.

The other Olympic teams with an Auburn flavor are Jamaica, which features former Tigers Sanjay Ayre (400m), Vonnette Dixon (100m hurdles), Maurice Smith (decathlon) and Kerron Stewart (100m/200m/4x100m relay); Trinidad & Tobago, which has Marc Burns (100m) and Josanne Lucas (400m hurdles) and Hungary, which will field Gabor Mate (discus).

Auburn golfer Clanton helps U.S. rout Japan
The United States dominated the final round – claiming 18 of 24 points – to defeat Japan 37-23 at the Fuji Xerox USA vs. Japan Collegiate Golf Championship at Tokyo Golf Club.

Team USA won eight and halved two of the day’s 12 matches.

Auburn freshman Cydney Clanton won her third match in a row, defeating Kaori Azuma, 78-80. The Americans now lead the series 25-8 and have won nine consecutive meetings in Japan.