TRAVIS PADGETT

Event: Sprints
Height: 5-8
Weight: 180
PR: 9.89 (2008)
Born: December 13, 1986
Current Residence: Marietta, Ga.
High School: Crest (Shelby, N.C.) HS ‘05
College: Clemson ‘09
Coach: Loren Seagrave
Club: adidas

Career Highlights: 4^th at 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials; 2008 4x100m relay Olympian; College 100m record holder; 2007 NCAA Indoor 60m champ; 2008 NCAA Outdoor 100m runner-up

Padgett surprised many in coming just one-hundredth of a second short in his bid to make the U.S. Olympic team in the 100 meters at the 2008 Olympic Trials in Eugene, Ore. By virtue of his fourth-place finish in the event, Padgett was named to the U.S. Olympic Team as a member of the Team USA 4x100m relay pool. Padgett broke the collegiate record in the quarterfinals at the Olympic Trials with a personal best of 9.89.  In the second semifinal at the Trials he overcame a tough start and played catch-up down the stretch to finish second in 10.11 seconds. Padgett got an outstanding jump out of the blocks in the final, but was out-leaned at the finish line by Darvis Patton who took third and the final Olympic Team 100m roster spot in 9.84. Padgett ran a 9.85, though the performance was aided by a +4.1 meters per second wind reading. Padgett experienced a whirlwind year in 2008 in  which he was named the ACC’s outstanding track performer, finished second in the 100m at the NCAA Outdoor Champs, and ended the season as a six-time All-American. Named the 2007 ACC Outdoor Freshman of the Year, Padgett was a sociology major at Clemson. He turned pro following the 2008 Olympic Games with one year of collegiate eligibility remaining.

2008:  Ran in opening round 4x100m relay (2nd leg) at Olympic Games that did not finish…4^th at Olympic Trials (9.85w)…1^st in quarterfinal at Olympic Trials (9.89PR, collegiate record)…runner-up at NCAA Outdoors (10.16)…6^th in semis at NCAA Outdoors 200m (20.77)…7^th in 4x100m relay at NCAA Outdoors…3^rd at NCAA Indoor 60m (6.60)…ACC 100m champ (10.22)…3^rd at ACC Outdoors 200m (21.04)…ranked #4 in U.S. by T&FN…best of 9.89.
2007: 4^th at NCAA Outdoors (10.24)…NCAA Indoor 60m champ (6.56)…ACC 100m champion (10.35)…6^th in semis at USA Outdoors (10.29)…4^th at ACC champs 60m (6.68)…ran lead leg on Clemson’s 7^th place 4x100m relay at NCAA Outdoors (40.07)…best of 10.09
2006: 4th at NCAA Outdoors (10.24)…5^th in opening round at USA Outdoors (10.43)…6^th in prelims of 4x100m relay at NCAA Outdoors (39.67)…ACC Indoor 60m runner-up (6.74)…best of 10.00.
2005: Best of 10.62
2004: Best of 10.46