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Cherry, Colwill Still In The Running

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By BILL WARD

The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 19, 2008

Despite suffering the effects of the flu, Tampa's Damu Cherry is just one step away from an Olympic medal after reaching the final of the women's 100-meter hurdles in Beijing.

Cherry, a Leto High and University of South Florida graduate making her Olympic Games debut at age 30, earned her spot in the title race by winning her semifinals heat Monday night at the National Stadium, aka the Bird's Nest.

Having just come down with the flu bug the night before, Cherry had struggled in Sunday's opening round, finishing third and having to qualify on time, not place. Monday, however, Cherry looked more like the hurdler who is ranked No. 2 in the world when she powered to first place in her semifinals heat in 12.62 seconds, .04 ahead of U.S. teammate Dawn Harper.

"I just settled down and focused on making the final," Cherry said via text message from Beijing. "I prayed and gave my best effort and left the results to God."

Cherry said her flu might be "a blessing in disguise." She says it has forced her to calm down, rest and "practice patience."

The other American in the event, Lolo Jones, who is ranked No. 1 in the world, won her heat in a lifetime best of 12.43 to lead all qualifiers into the final. Jones and Cherry went 1-2 in last month's U.S. Olympic track and field trials, where they posted the world's top two times of the season to that point at 12.45 and 12.47, respectively.

The finals are slated for 10:30 p.m. Tuesday, Beijing time, 10:30 a.m. today in Tampa.

CHRIS COLWILL: In diving, Brandon's Colwill has advanced to the semifinals of the men's 3-meter springboard competition.

Colwill, a Tampa Prep and University of Georgia product, earned his spot in the semifinals by placing seventh in Monday's opening round of the event. Last week, Colwill and dive partner Jevon Tarantino placed fourth in the 3-meter synchronized springboard, one spot away from the medals podium.

According to Colwill's father, Chuck, who attended Monday's event at the National Aquatics Center in Beijing, Chris' performance was "nothing flashy but very consistent." Colwill scored 464.75 points for his six dives, 50.75 behind top qualifier He Chong of China but more than 16 points ahead of his U.S. teammate, Troy Dumais, who won the event at the U.S. Olympic diving trials.

Colwill started off in 25th place after his first dive but worked his way up the list and had cracked the top 10 by his fifth dive. He scored just 67.50 points on his first dive but scored more than 80 points on three other dives, including 84 apiece on his last two dives - a reverse 21/2 pike with 11/2 twists and a reverse 31/2 tuck.

"I was definitely a little nervous on that first dive, but I felt confident," Colwill said. "I definitely could have done a little better, but I can't complain about my position."

The top 18 from Monday's opening round advanced to the semifinals. All scores from the first round do not carry over to the semifinals. The semifinals were held today in Beijing at 10 a.m., or 10 p.m. Monday in Tampa. Finals are tonight in Beijing/this morning Tampa time.

BEN BARGER: The Tampa sailor finished 26th overall in men's windsurfer RS:X. In the eighth race of the series, Barger finished 17th. In the ninth, he was 25th. The medals for the event will be decided Wednesday.

Keyword: Olympics, for the latest on Chris Colwill's bid to bring home an Olympic medal.

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