Go, Ellen, Go!

Maryville graduate enters Olympic Trials nation’s fourth-ranked hurdler

By Stefan Cooper
Editor
Blount Press Row

University of Tennessee and Maryville High graduate Ellen Wortham gets set for another sprint during training at Tom Black Track on Thursday. Photos by Jolanda Jansma

KNOXVILLE – She could really do this.

When Ellen Wortham opens qualifying in the 400-meter hurdles at the U.S. Olympic Trials in Eugene, Ore., next Thursday, the University of Tennessee and Maryville High graduate will be looking to do more than bring a successful track and field career to a close.

Wortham, the two-time defending Southeastern Conference champion in the event, enters the trials ranked fourth-fastest among American women this season. Her Lady Vol record for the distance, 55.55 seconds, is only .37 hundreds of a second out of third, .67 off the fastest time.