Roberts Captures Gold At World Championships
March 12, 2012 | Track and Field
Gil Roberts anchored the gold medal winning U.S. 4x400 relay this weekend at the IAAF World Championships in Istanbul, Turkey.
March 12, 2012
LUBBOCK, Texas - After capturing the gold medal at the U.S. Indoor Championships in Albuquerque, N.M just two weeks ago in the 400 meter dash, senior Gil Roberts added to his historic indoor season this weekend at the IAAF World Indoor Championships in Istanbul, Turkey.
As the anchor of the U.S. 4x400 relay team, Roberts secured his second gold medal of the spring as the relay team ran a winning time of 3:03.94, nearly a second ahead of Great Britain who finished second in the event.
Roberts helped the U.S. to their fourth consecutive win in the event at the World Championships.
"I always knew he could run a great leg on the 4x400," sprints coach Dion Miller said. "He is in an elite league. To be able to anchor a U.S. 4x400 relay team is a phenomenal accomplishment, and to win the 4x400 relay at the World Championships - he is definitely in an elite group."
Miller has now coached a total of three U.S. champions, and Roberts is the first Texas Tech athlete to win a gold medal at the World Championships.
In Albuquerque on Feb. 26, Roberts won the 400 meter dash with a time of 45.39 to qualify for the World Championships. Roberts ran a time of 47.01 in the 400 meters on Friday, but did not advance out of the preliminaries.
Roberts will complete his outdoor eligibility with Texas Tech during the outdoor season this spring.
"We are very anxious to get him back," head coach Wes Kittley said. "He has had a very fun and exceptional indoor season running for the U.S.A. and running on his own."
Texas Tech begins its outdoor season this weekend at the Willie Williams Classic in Tucson, Ariz.
Players Mentioned
