Former Vols run successful races Friday

10:28 PM, Aug 10, 2012   |    comments
  • Aug 4, 2012; London, United Kingdom; Tianna Madison (USA) competes in the women's 100m semifinals during the London 2012 Olympic Games at Olympic Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kryger-USA TODAY Sports
  • Aug 5, 2012; London, United Kingdom; Usain Bolt (JAM), second from left, defeats Ryan Bailey (USA), left, and Justin Gatlin (USA), second from right, and Yohan Blake (JAM), right, to win the men's 100m final during the 2012 London Olympic Games at Olympic Stadium. Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports
    
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Friday was a big day for former University of Tennessee athletes who are competing at the Olympics in London.

Three of them ran successful races and one is bringing home a gold medal.

Photo Gallery: East Tennessee athletes in Olympic action

Tianna Madison is a UT grad who won a gold medal in the 4 by 100 final. She helped to give the US a big lead heading into the final leg, and the final time was a world record at 40.82 seconds.

"It's my first Olympics and you go away with a world record, it's almost like, what more can you do? So, I'm definitely looking forward to doing this again," she said.

Two other former Vols are hoping they'll be celebrating Saturday night.

Justin Gatlin and his teammates qualified for the finals in the 4 by 100 meter relay. Gatlin anchored that preliminary race, and now he's hoping to do better than the bronze medal he won on Sunday.

"I thank these guys. We've come together with great camaraderie, and I think we have more left for America and to show the world," he said.

Also, Dee Dee Trotter and her teammates easily qualified for the final int he 4 by 400 meters.

Trotter also has a bronze following an individual race last weekend.

"Man, what an exciting race. These young ladies are a pleasure to run with. I'm just so enthusiastic about tomorrow, and our chances to bring home that gold," she said.

Those finals will be aired here on Channel 10 on Saturday night.

Plus, Candace Parker, Tamika Catchings, and the rest of the USA women's basketball team will take on France in the gold medal final.