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#USC2Paris Olympics Recap (Day 15): Gold Rushes In For USC With 400m Hurdle Win for Benjamin, Relay Golds for Terry, Brown and De Grasse
August 09, 2024 | USC Athletics, Men's Volleyball, Men's Water Polo, Track & Field, Olympics
Trojan Micah Christenson wins his second Olympic bronze medal with Team USA in indoor volleyball.
PARIS, FRANCE — USC set its gold-medal streak on course with three Trojan golds within about 20 minutes 4x100m relay wins by the United States women and Canada men. Running the second leg for Team USA, USC alum Kendall Ellis won her first Olympic medal and extended USC's gold-medal streak with the USA's gold-medal finish. In the day's next race, Canadian Trojans Aaron Brown and Andre De Grasse combined forces for a gold-medal finish in the men's 4x100 relay to further solidify USC's claim to at least one Trojan gold in every Summer Olympics since 1912. De Grasse now stands as Canada's most decorated male Olympian, now with seven medals (two gold, two silver, three bronze). A couple hours later, Trojan Rai Benjamin added to the gold medal count when the American grabbed gold in the men's 400m hurdles, bettering his 2020 silver finish in that event. Also today, USC's Micah Christenson also earned a repeat trip to an Olympic podium by winning bronze with Team USA in men's indoor volleyball. See below for full results and statistics for USC athletes in Paris today.
Women's Athletics
4x100 Relay Final
• A first-time Olympian, TeeTee Terry (USA) claimed USC's first gold medal in Paris, running the second leg of Team USA's GOLD MEDAL relay, which posted a winning time of 41.78. It's Terry's first-ever Olympic medal and helps USC keep its gold-medal streak alive, as Trojans have won at least one gold medal in every Summer Olympics since 1912.
4x400 Relay Round 1
• A two-time Olympian, Kendall Ellis (USA) did not race in today's relay for Team USA, which earned advancement to the final.
• A three-time Olympian, Amalie Iuel (Norway) ran the anchor leg of Norway's relay, which finished sixth in its heat and 13th overall in a time of 3:28.61, missing advancement to the final.
• A two-time Olympian, Nicole Yeargin (Great Britain) did not race in today's relay for Great Britain, which earned advancement to the final.
• A first-time Olympian, Yemi John (Great Britain) ran the first leg of Great Britain's relay, which finished second in its heat and overall in a time of 3:24.72 to advance to the final on Aug. 10.
• A two-time Olympian, Kyra Constantine (Canada) ran the anchor leg of Canada's relay, which finished fourth in its heat and eighth overall in a time of 3:25.77 to advance to the final on Aug. 10.
Men's Athletics
4x400 Relay Round 1
• Two-time Olympian and 2020 gold medalist Michael Norman (USA) did not race in today's relay for Team USA, which earned advancement to the final.
4x100 Relay Final
• Three-time Olympian Aaron Brown (Canada) won his first gold medal, running the first leg of Canada's first-place relay finish to claim GOLD in a time of 37.50. Brown now has a gold medal to go with silver and bronze medals won with Canada in the same event in 2016 and 2020, respectively.
• Three-time Olympian and six-time medalist Andre De Grasse (Canada) won second first gold medal and first in Paris, running the anchor leg of Canada's first-place relay finish to claim GOLD in a time of 37.50. De Grasse now has a gold medal to go with silver and bronze medals won with Canada in the same event in 2016 and 2020, respectively. De Grasse is now the most decorated Canadian male Olympian, having achieved seven career medals (two gold, two silver, three bronze).
400m Hurdles Final
• Two-time Olympian Rai Benjamin (USA) won GOLD in a time of 46.46, tying his season best time. It's Benjamin's third Olympic medal, following 2020 silver in the same event and 2020 gold in the 4x400m relay.
Bronze Medal Match: USA def. Italy 3-0
• Trojan alum and three-time Olympian Micah Christenson won a BRONZE medal with Team USA with a 3-0 (25-23, 30-28, 26-24) victory over Italy. It's Christenson's second Olympic bronze medal, having also won bronze with the United States at the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro. Christenson had 17 assists, eight digs, one kill and one block for Team USA in today's bronze-medal win over the Italians.
Semifinal: Serbia 10, USA 6
• Competing in his second Olympic Games, 2018 NCAA champion Hannes Daube played but did not score for Team USA in its semifinal loss to Serbia. The United States moves to the bronze-medal game on Aug. 11.
• Competing in his second Olympic Games, 2018 NCAA champion Marko Vavic scored two goals for Team USA in its semifinal loss to Serbia and will play for bronze on Aug. 11.
Consolation Semi: Greece 15, Australia 9
• Playing in his third Olympic Games, three-time NCAA champion Kostas Genidounias scored one goal for Greece to help push his team on to the fifth-place game in Paris with today's win over Australia.
• Two-time Olympian Blake Edwards started and had a rebound for Australia in its loss to Greece, which puts the Aussies in the seventh-place game in Paris.
• Two-time Olympian Lachlan Edwards started and had a steal and rebound for Australia today.
• A 2018 NCAA champion at USC and first-time Olympian, Jacob Mercep scored one goal and added a rebound for Australia today..
• A 2018 NCAA champion at USC and first-time Olympian, goalie Nic Porter started in goal and recorded five saves and a steal in his three periods of work for Australia.
NEXT UP:
Tomorrow (Saturday, Aug. 10), USC has plenty of medals up for grabs in athletics and women's water polo. Two Women of Troy are assured gold or silver when Australia's Tilly Kearns goes up against fellow Trojan Anni Espar of Spain in the women's water polo gold-medal game at 6:35 a.m. PT. That follows another set of Women of Troy looking for bronze medals with Team USA, with the United States women's water polo — featuring Trojans Emily Ausmus, Kaleigh Gilchrist and Amanda Longan — facing the Netherlands at 1:35 a.m. USC also looks to reach Olympic podiums on the track with Trojans in contention with their respective nations in the men's and women's 4x400m relay finals tomorrow. Check the full list of participating Trojans along with schedule and results HERE: https://olympics.usctrojans.com/schedule
August 9 RecapThree golds in 20 minutes for our Trojans! 🥇🥇🥇
— USC Track & Field / XC (@USC_Track_Field) August 9, 2024
We'll take that 👏#USC2Paris | #OlympiansMadeHere pic.twitter.com/ZNZLaG87k2
Women's Athletics
4x100 Relay Final
• A first-time Olympian, TeeTee Terry (USA) claimed USC's first gold medal in Paris, running the second leg of Team USA's GOLD MEDAL relay, which posted a winning time of 41.78. It's Terry's first-ever Olympic medal and helps USC keep its gold-medal streak alive, as Trojans have won at least one gold medal in every Summer Olympics since 1912.
4x400 Relay Round 1
• A two-time Olympian, Kendall Ellis (USA) did not race in today's relay for Team USA, which earned advancement to the final.
• A three-time Olympian, Amalie Iuel (Norway) ran the anchor leg of Norway's relay, which finished sixth in its heat and 13th overall in a time of 3:28.61, missing advancement to the final.
• A two-time Olympian, Nicole Yeargin (Great Britain) did not race in today's relay for Great Britain, which earned advancement to the final.
• A first-time Olympian, Yemi John (Great Britain) ran the first leg of Great Britain's relay, which finished second in its heat and overall in a time of 3:24.72 to advance to the final on Aug. 10.
• A two-time Olympian, Kyra Constantine (Canada) ran the anchor leg of Canada's relay, which finished fourth in its heat and eighth overall in a time of 3:25.77 to advance to the final on Aug. 10.
Men's Athletics
4x400 Relay Round 1
• Two-time Olympian and 2020 gold medalist Michael Norman (USA) did not race in today's relay for Team USA, which earned advancement to the final.
4x100 Relay Final
• Three-time Olympian Aaron Brown (Canada) won his first gold medal, running the first leg of Canada's first-place relay finish to claim GOLD in a time of 37.50. Brown now has a gold medal to go with silver and bronze medals won with Canada in the same event in 2016 and 2020, respectively.
• Three-time Olympian and six-time medalist Andre De Grasse (Canada) won second first gold medal and first in Paris, running the anchor leg of Canada's first-place relay finish to claim GOLD in a time of 37.50. De Grasse now has a gold medal to go with silver and bronze medals won with Canada in the same event in 2016 and 2020, respectively. De Grasse is now the most decorated Canadian male Olympian, having achieved seven career medals (two gold, two silver, three bronze).
400m Hurdles Final
• Two-time Olympian Rai Benjamin (USA) won GOLD in a time of 46.46, tying his season best time. It's Benjamin's third Olympic medal, following 2020 silver in the same event and 2020 gold in the 4x400m relay.
Men's Indoor Volleyball👑 CROWN HIM 👑#USC2Paris | #OlympiansMadeHere pic.twitter.com/ZfG8YPni2K
— USC Track & Field / XC (@USC_Track_Field) August 9, 2024
Bronze Medal Match: USA def. Italy 3-0
• Trojan alum and three-time Olympian Micah Christenson won a BRONZE medal with Team USA with a 3-0 (25-23, 30-28, 26-24) victory over Italy. It's Christenson's second Olympic bronze medal, having also won bronze with the United States at the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro. Christenson had 17 assists, eight digs, one kill and one block for Team USA in today's bronze-medal win over the Italians.
Men's Water PoloCongratulations to Micah and @usavolleyball on winning Bronze with a win over Italy today! 🇺🇸#USC2Paris pic.twitter.com/OBSGnTuIS9
— USC Men's Volleyball (@USCmensvolley) August 9, 2024
Semifinal: Serbia 10, USA 6
• Competing in his second Olympic Games, 2018 NCAA champion Hannes Daube played but did not score for Team USA in its semifinal loss to Serbia. The United States moves to the bronze-medal game on Aug. 11.
• Competing in his second Olympic Games, 2018 NCAA champion Marko Vavic scored two goals for Team USA in its semifinal loss to Serbia and will play for bronze on Aug. 11.
Consolation Semi: Greece 15, Australia 9
• Playing in his third Olympic Games, three-time NCAA champion Kostas Genidounias scored one goal for Greece to help push his team on to the fifth-place game in Paris with today's win over Australia.
• Two-time Olympian Blake Edwards started and had a rebound for Australia in its loss to Greece, which puts the Aussies in the seventh-place game in Paris.
• Two-time Olympian Lachlan Edwards started and had a steal and rebound for Australia today.
• A 2018 NCAA champion at USC and first-time Olympian, Jacob Mercep scored one goal and added a rebound for Australia today..
• A 2018 NCAA champion at USC and first-time Olympian, goalie Nic Porter started in goal and recorded five saves and a steal in his three periods of work for Australia.
NEXT UP:
Tomorrow (Saturday, Aug. 10), USC has plenty of medals up for grabs in athletics and women's water polo. Two Women of Troy are assured gold or silver when Australia's Tilly Kearns goes up against fellow Trojan Anni Espar of Spain in the women's water polo gold-medal game at 6:35 a.m. PT. That follows another set of Women of Troy looking for bronze medals with Team USA, with the United States women's water polo — featuring Trojans Emily Ausmus, Kaleigh Gilchrist and Amanda Longan — facing the Netherlands at 1:35 a.m. USC also looks to reach Olympic podiums on the track with Trojans in contention with their respective nations in the men's and women's 4x400m relay finals tomorrow. Check the full list of participating Trojans along with schedule and results HERE: https://olympics.usctrojans.com/schedule
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Thursday, July 25
Unparalleled History
Monday, July 22
