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Spring 2004, Volume 46, Number 1

Olympic Dreams

By Michelle Carlyon, Photo by Jason Marsh

The Summer Olympics may be as far away as Athens, Greece, but for four USF students, the road to get there is as close as the university's athletic track. Chandra Brewer (shot put), Amber Delpino (hurdles), Jimmy Baxter (high jump) and Dayana Octavien (hammer throw and discus) are in training mode, vying for the chance to be an Olympian.

Last year Brewer received All-America honors at the NCAA outdoor championships with her personal best throw of 53' 11". She also was crowned Conference USA champion at the outdoor championships. The 22-year-old is majoring in elementary education.

Delpino has been competing for about 10 years but this is the first year she has decided to focus on training for the Olympics. USF has had a big influence on the Pensacola native's competition. Last year Delpino set a school record at the Conference USA outdoor championships by winning the 400 hurdles with a personal best of 58.35 seconds.

Baxter left the USF's men's basketball team this year to focus on track and field and training for the Olympics. In 2003, he jumped a personal best of 7'5" at the USF Invitational to win the event. The 23-year-old was named to the NCAA All-American team at the outdoor championships by finishing in the top eight among Americans. At Boca Ciega High School in St. Petersburg he was the Florida state high school high jump champion and record holder with a height of 7'2".

Octavien has been competing for six years, two in high school and four at USF. The pre-med/biology major placed first and set a new conference record at the outdoor championships in the hammer throws with her NCAA-qualifying mark of 200'1". The 21-year-old says USF has taught her to be a good sport, compete to the best of her ability and remain humble.

These four student-athletes aren't USF's first hope at the Olympics. Llewelyn Bredwood and Kemel Thompson competed in the track and field events in the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney. A total of eight Olympic athletes have graduated from the university. In fact, USF's Olympic strength was one of the selling points in the move to the Big East Conference back in November.

One person at USF already knows he's going to be in Athens in August. Head softball coach Ken Eriksen will serve as an assistant coach with the United States National Team. His responsibilities are pitching, catching and defensive game plans. "I have been at USF since 1979 as a player and a coach so I am taking a lot of people's thoughts and hopes with me," said Eriksen. "I just hope we will do everyone right by winning the gold medal."

It's safe to say no matter what happens in Athens, these student athletes and coaches can hold their heads high and be proud to say they represented USF well.