Former Florida and Groveland South Lake football and track standout Jeff Demps was on his way to London on Wednesday after being added to a USA track and field relay pool for the Olympics. (Kirby Lee, US Presswire) (August 17, 2012) |
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Jeff Demps got the wake-up call of his life.
He was asleep at 7 a.m. Tuesday when his phone rang and he was told he had been added to the USA Olympic track and field team as a member of the 4 x 100-meter relay pool.
"I was halfway asleep. It didn't hit me right away," said Demps, the former University of Florida and Groveland South Lake sprinter and football standout. "I am really excited to be added to the team. It is an honor and a privilege."
Demps replaces Mike Rodgers of Round Rock, Texas, who has a stress fracture in his left foot.
Rodgers, who went to high school in St. Louis, claimed in a story in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that USA Track and Field rushed its decision and he still could have competed when the event is held Aug. 10-11.
"It was like a dream coming true for Jeff," said Walter Banks, Demps' former football coach at South Lake. "He is well aware he is an alternate on the team, but you never know. He may get there and fast enough to be added to the team."
Demps caught a flight to London on Wednesday afternoon and will be with the American team for opening ceremonies Friday.
"I am not sure what it is going to feel like, but I imagine it will be a great feeling walking into the [Olympic] stadium," Demps said. "It [the Olympics] is the pinnacle of track and field. I will be nervous to be there, but it is going to be a great feeling as well."
Demps was a four-time NCAA champ and placed seventh at the U.S. trials in the 100 meters last month, running a time of 10.27 seconds. Rodgers finished fourth in 9.94 seconds.
The best wind-legal time Demps has run is 10.01 seconds, but he ran a wind-aided 9.96 while winning the 2010 NCAA title.
Demps competed on the USA 4 x 100 "B" relay team at the Monaco Diamond League meet last weekend. The B team, which included Demps, Rodgers, Maurice Mitchell and Travis Patton, ran a 37.83. It finished second to the USA "A" team of Trell Kimmons, Justin Gatlin, Tyson Gay and Ryan Bailey, who ran this year's world's best time of 37.61.
Demps is one of 10 Gators competing in track and field at the Olympics.
jrwilliams@tribune.com or 352-742-5921
He was asleep at 7 a.m. Tuesday when his phone rang and he was told he had been added to the USA Olympic track and field team as a member of the 4 x 100-meter relay pool.
"I was halfway asleep. It didn't hit me right away," said Demps, the former University of Florida and Groveland South Lake sprinter and football standout. "I am really excited to be added to the team. It is an honor and a privilege."
Demps replaces Mike Rodgers of Round Rock, Texas, who has a stress fracture in his left foot.
Rodgers, who went to high school in St. Louis, claimed in a story in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that USA Track and Field rushed its decision and he still could have competed when the event is held Aug. 10-11.
"It was like a dream coming true for Jeff," said Walter Banks, Demps' former football coach at South Lake. "He is well aware he is an alternate on the team, but you never know. He may get there and fast enough to be added to the team."
Demps caught a flight to London on Wednesday afternoon and will be with the American team for opening ceremonies Friday.
"I am not sure what it is going to feel like, but I imagine it will be a great feeling walking into the [Olympic] stadium," Demps said. "It [the Olympics] is the pinnacle of track and field. I will be nervous to be there, but it is going to be a great feeling as well."
Demps was a four-time NCAA champ and placed seventh at the U.S. trials in the 100 meters last month, running a time of 10.27 seconds. Rodgers finished fourth in 9.94 seconds.
The best wind-legal time Demps has run is 10.01 seconds, but he ran a wind-aided 9.96 while winning the 2010 NCAA title.
Demps competed on the USA 4 x 100 "B" relay team at the Monaco Diamond League meet last weekend. The B team, which included Demps, Rodgers, Maurice Mitchell and Travis Patton, ran a 37.83. It finished second to the USA "A" team of Trell Kimmons, Justin Gatlin, Tyson Gay and Ryan Bailey, who ran this year's world's best time of 37.61.
Demps is one of 10 Gators competing in track and field at the Olympics.
jrwilliams@tribune.com or 352-742-5921
