Bears In Beijing

Olympic gold medalists Jeremy Wariner and Darold Williamson led a contingent of four former Bears in the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. The former Baylor teammates were joined by fellow letterwinners Reggie Witherspoon and Bayano Kamani, BBA '02.

Wariner took silver in the 400 meters and again competed in the 4x400-meter relay after winning gold medals in both events at the 2004 Olympics in Athens. Baylor alumni had won either gold or silver in the 400 meters in each of the last four Olympics, as Wariner's back-to-back medals followed Michael Johnson, BBA '90, who won consecutive golds in 1996 and 2000.

Williamson ran the anchor leg for the U.S. in 2004 when the team brought home the gold, and this summer he and Wariner were joined by Witherspoon on the relay team. (Relay results were not available as this issue went to press.)

While Wariner, Williamson and Witherspoon each represented the United States, Kamani competed in the 400-meter hurdles for Panama. Kamani placed fifth in the hurdles in 2004 but failed to advance past the first round this year.

Two Baylor track and field coaches also made the trip. Baylor Director of Track and Field Clyde Hart, BBA '56, who coached Johnson in 1996 and 2000 and Wariner in 2004, headed to Beijing to guide Sanya Richards, a former Texas Longhorn. Richards won bronze in the 400 meters and was scheduled to compete in the 4x400 relay. 

Baylor assistant coach Michael Ford, BBA '97, coached Wariner, Williamson, Witherspoon, and Sanjay Ayre, a former Auburn Tiger running the 4x400 relay for Jamaica.