Marvin Bracy walked away from Florida State as a dual-sport athlete as a freshman to chase his dream in track & field.
On Sunday at Historic Hayward Field, Bracy’s dream came true.
Bracy is headed to the Olympic Games in Rio de Janiero after placing third in the 100-meter dash final at the USA Olympic Trials, posting a time of 9.98.
“I was really confident,” Bracy said. “I knew that all of us guys were on a level playing field, and that it could go either way. I had to execute my race to make the team.”
The Orlando native who came to FSU as a football signee in the fall of 2012 and also competed in track & field before turning pro in the spring of 2013, joins Trials champion Justin Gatlin (9.80) and Trayvon Bromell (9.84) as the top three representatives in the premier track event on world’s biggest state.
“I said, ‘Give it what you’ve got for this last hoorah and leave it all out on the line,’” Bracy said. “I told myself that somebody is going to be disappointed, but whatever happens, give it your best. My best made this team. I can’t thank God enough of that.’”
Bracy's accomplishment caused celebration among several of his former FSU teammates on social media:
Former Seminole and teammate Dentarius Locke was eighth in the 100-meter final and will not make the squad. Locke turned in a season-best 10.01 to qualify for the final on time, but was unable to keep pace with the field out of lane eight, finishing in 10.34.
“I’m just so excited for Marvin,” Florida State coach Bob Braman said. “We wish we could have had more years with him, but it’s worked out for him as a Pro and we’re happy for him.
“And don’t forget who got him started in the sport -- our sprints coach Ricky Argro.”
Bracy wasn’t the only former Seminole to secure an Olympic berth on Sunday. Jamaican veteran triple jumper Kimberly Williams successfully defended her national title at the National Stadium in Kingston with a winning leap of 14.66 meters (48-1.25). That was a season-best mark for Williams.
Williams, who was sixth at the 2012 London Olympic Games, won by nearly eight inches with her best mark since 2013. It was the fifth consecutive Jamaican national title for the seven-time NCAA champion with the Seminoles.
Recent FSU standout Meme Jean competed in the opening round of the 100-meter hurdle relays this past spring. Jean, who was trying to land an automatic Olympic qualifying time, ran 13.33 into a minus-2.4 headwind. She will await official confirmation from Haiti as to whether she will represent the country in Rio.
Earlier this weekend, former Seminole Violah Lagat earned his first Olympic appearance with a third-place finish in the 1500-meter run at Kenya’s Olympic Trials.
To date, nine current or former Seminole track & field standouts have secured berths to the 2016 Olympic Games, with several others yet to qualify or awaiting confirmation from their countries.
All Olympic berths will be announced on July 11 at the conclusion of the qualifying meets with the Canadian Trials and European Championships still to be contested.
On Monday, former NCAA national champion Colleen Quigley will compete in the first round of the 3000-meter steeplechase at the USA Olympic Trials. Maurice Mitchell, another former NCAA champion, will compete in the 200-meter dash at the trials later in the week.
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