Aug. 20, 2008

BEIJING, China - - Jared Connaughton, the former UT Arlington sprinter who qualified for the semifinals earlier this week in the 200-meter dash at the 2008 Summer Olympic Games, has one more chance for gold in Beijing, China.

Connaughton and his Canadian teammates will race Thursday morning at 7:30 a.m. Central Time (8:30 p.m. in Beijing) in Heat 2 of the 4x100 relay. Canada will be in Lane 2 and run beside Germany. Canada has a better-than-average chance to advance to the finals and even challenge for a medal based on season-best times.

In their heat, the Canadian team has a season-best 38.72 in the event. Only Germany's 38.48 is better.

The Top Three in each heat and the next two fastest times advance to the final, which is schedule for 9:10 a.m. Central Time on Friday morning. Connaughton competed as an individual in the 200 meters at these Olympic Games. He advanced through the first round, then finished among the Top 16 to advance to the semifinals.

Connaughton is the sixth UT Arlington track and field athlete and 10th athlete in all sports to compete in the Olympics.