MOSCOW, Russia – Three-time NCAA Champion Tony McQuay captured his first individual medal on the world stage Tuesday, utilizing a personal best 44.40 to claim silver in the men’s 400 meters at the 14th IAAF World Outdoor Track & Field Championships. The nine-day meet runs through Sunday, August 18 at Luzhniki Stadium.
"I'm very excited (about the race),” McQuay said. “This is a big stage and my first individual medal (on this level). I came out and executed my race. I stayed humble, I stayed hungry and I listened to my coach before my race. I executed just like he told me to and it worked out great for me.
“We definitely have to remain hungry and humble, come out here and keep the title up for the 400m USA men,” McQuay finished.” We're going to finish up the mission in the 4x4 and let everybody know USA is still number 1."
McQuay has a silver medal from the 2012 London Olympics after running the third leg for Team USA in the men’s 4x400-meter relay. McQuay, along with NCAA Champion Arman Hall (Pembroke Pines, Fla.), will compete in heats for the relay at 11:05 a.m. ET Thursday.
Kerron Clement qualified out of his semifinal in the men’s 400-meter hurdles with a time of 48.21, finishing third in his semi and fourth overall to advance as the fastest qualifier on time for Thursday’s final at 1:00 p.m. ET.
The lone Gator competing Wednesday is 2013 NCAA Champion in the indoor long jump, Marquis Dendy (Middletown, Del.). Dendy made Team USA by virtue of turning in the only A standard mark for the U.S. men in 2013 with his NCAA-winning leap of 8.28m/27-2. The rising junior will participate in the qualification round for the men’s long jump at 2:25 a.m. ET and will compete in the second flight.
A strong Gator contingent is residing in Moscow, as 16 Gators have been granted the opportunity to represent their countries in Moscow, led by Florida head coach Mike Holloway. The 2013 USTFCCCA National Outdoor Head Coach of the Year, Holloway was chosen as head men’s coach for Team USA.
Universal Sports Network and NBC will air 46 hours of premier track & field action from the 2013 IAAF World Championships in Moscow, Russia from Saturday, August 10 through Sunday, August 18. The broadcast team of Ato Boldon, Tom Hammond, Lewis Johnson and Dwight Stones will call the action from Luzhniki stadium in Moscow, home of the 1980 Olympic Games.
