Sanya Richards has her mind set on one thing: Athens. In yesterday\'s 400 meter quarter finals of the Olympic Trials in Sacramento she lowered the American Junior record to 50.22, the second time she has done so in two months.
\"I feel really good and I\'m motivated,\" said Richards. \"My main motivation was making the Olympic team and going to Athens. I\'ve been running well, and I think we\'ll all have the opportunity to make the Olympic team and represent the United States.\"
Richards, who now runs for Nike, is a 2002 St. Thomas Aquinas graduate. She ran with the University of Texas Longhorns in 2003, before announcing that she would go pro just a few months ago.
Her decision is looking more and more wise, as she may end up being the top American at the 400 meter distance. Though she still has two rounds to go, she goes into the semi-finals seeded first.
Competition will resume on Thursday, when Sanya will go against some very stiff competition. Fellow Floridian Charlette Greggs, a 2002 Miami Northwestern grad now at the University of Miami, will also compete in the the semis. Greggs qualified from her heat with a time of 53.71.