Christian Coleman, a graduate of Our Lady of Mercy and a current track star at the University of Tennessee, was named to the U.S. Olympic team in the men’s 4×100-meter relay to compete next month in Rio de Janeiro.
The team was announced July 10 by USA Track and Field at the conclusion of the Olympic Trials in Eugene, Ore.
In the 100-meter dash, Coleman clocked the second-fastest time in the first round at 9.96 seconds and his 9.95 seconds in the semifinals was third-best as well as a personal best. He finished sixth in the 100-meter final at 10.03.
This performance comes on the heels of an impressive sophomore season at the University of Tennessee. He was named a 2016 USTFCCCA Indoor Track & Field First Team All-American for the 60m, 200m, and 4x400m relay and captured the 200-meter dash national title. He was also the 2016 SEC Indoor Champion in the 60-meter dash.
Coleman was the 2016 SEC Men’s Indoor Runner of the Year and USTFCCCA South Regional Athlete of the Year. He garnered USTFCCCA Outdoor Track & Field First Team All-American honors in June after taking second place in both the 100 meters and 200 meters at the 2016 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
He set a new Tennessee record with a 10.03 in the 100-meter semifinals at NCAAs, breaking Justin Gatlin’s 2002 school mark of 10.05. Coleman qualified for both the 100 meters and the 200 meters at the U.S. Olympic Trials.
For all of these accomplishments, he was honored by the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame as its Male Amateur Athlete of the Year.
Coleman is only two years removed from his high school track career with the Bobcats, which culminated in a spectacular performance at the GHSA state championship meet where he was named top overall performer in all classifications with four state titles and three state records. He won the Class A title in the long jump and captured state records in the 100 meters, 200 meters and on the the 4×100-meter relay team.
