July 2, 2012

Results | London Track and Field Schedule

CALGARY, Canada - Former Illinois women's track and field athlete Nikkita Holder (2005-09) qualified in the 100m hurdles for Team Canada at the London 2012 Olympic Games. Holder finished third with a time of 12.80 at the Canadian Trials on Saturday. The former Illini will be one of three Canadians who qualified in the event for the Games which begin Aug. 6 with the preliminary rounds.

"It's great to have another Illini hurdler represent her country and the University of Illinois at the Olympic Games," head coach Tonja Buford-Bailey said. "Nikkita was a finalist last year at the World Championships so it would be nice to see her advance to the finals of the Games."

Holder will be joined by Jessica Zelinka (12.68) and Phylicia George (12.72) who finished first and second in the event.

At Illinois, Holder competed in the 100m hurdles, 100m and 60m hurdles. The former Illini competed in two NCAA Mideast Regional Championships and placed a career-best fourth in the 100m hurdles at the Big Ten Championships (2007). Holder also scored points for the Orange and Blue in a total of three conference championships.

Holder represented Canada in the 100m hurdles at the 2009 Canadian Championships, 2006 World Junior Championships in Beijing and also in 2005 at the Pan Am Junior Championships.