Former JSU Hurdler to Take Olympic Stage
LONDON - Former Jackson State hurdler Michael Tinsley's day in the Olympic sun is creeping closer as he will take the track in the 400M Hurdles next week at the 2012 Olympic Games.
Round one of the 400M hurdles is scheduled for Friday, August 3 at Olympic Stadium in London. The semifinals are slated for Saturday, Aug. 4, with the finals on schedule for Monday, Aug. 6.
Tinsley qualified for the Games on day 11 of the US Olympic Trials in Eugene, Ore. when he won the men’s 400 meter hurdles with a time of 48.33.
While at Jackson State, Tinsley placed his name on the national and
world scene in 2006. He recorded with a sixth place finish at the USA
Outdoor meet and a win at the NCAA Championships. With the win at the
2006 NCAA Outdoor Championships, Tinsley became the first Jackson State
University track athlete to win an NCAA Division I title. To celebrate
his win, JSU proclaimed Thursday, June 15, “Michael Tinsley Day” and
publicly recognized him and his family with a reception held in the
Walter Payton Health and Wellness Center on campus.
With wins in 2006, at the Texas Relays and the NCAA Championships,
Tinsley continued his move up the national rankings (#4), and ended the
year with his first ever T&FN top ten world ranking (#10).
In 2005, he gave a hint of what was to come with a third-place finish in
the 400 m hurdles at the NCAA Outdoor Championships. He was ranked No. 7
at the end of the year, in the U.S. Track & Field News.
Tinsley won both the 110-meter and 400-meter hurdles titles at the 2004
SWAC Outdoor Championships. A multi-event athlete, he ran the second
leg of the team that captured the 4x400m relay title at the 2004 SWAC
Championships.
