Maverick Athletics News Release
PARIS, France – Minnesota State senior sprinter Denisha Cartwright exploded out of the blocks and posted a time of 12.89 in heat 2 of the 100 meter hurdles Wednesday for The Bahamas at the 2024 Summer Olympic Games. Her time was fourth fastest in the heat and 19th quickest overall (top-18 advance to semifinals, top-3 in each of five heats plus top-3 fastest overall). Her time was .04 seconds away from qualifying.
The first Maverick women’s track and field athlete to ever compete in the Olympics, Cartwright will have the opportunity again to qualify for the semifinals in the repechage round on Thursday, August 8 at 3:35 a.m. (USA Network).
“In her first Olympics Denisha came out and performed well,” said Minnesota State Track & Field Associate Head Coach Chris Parno in Paris. “She contacted the first hurdle, which certainly affected the race, but it’s an easy adjustment that we have made at points all season. Any other year without the repechange round she would have been qualified automatically based on time. Even so, she gets a chance to secure her spot tomorrow and will be prepared to throw down a great race.”
Cartwright closed out her Maverick career with 30 All-America honors, including eight Division II indoor/outdoor National event titles. Cartwright finished her career with the NCAA Division II All-Time record in the 60 meter hurdles and was named the Honda Division II Women’s Sports Athlete of the Year.
Competing in the 100 meter hurdles in the Olympics, arguably her fastest event, Cartwright collected four 100 meter hurdle All-American honors, along with three National Outdoor titles. Her top time is 12.60 seconds (1.6), set in the finals at the NSIC Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Mankato in May.
Cartwright hails from Nassau, Bahamas, where she qualified for her country in June. She came to the Mavericks in 2020 after a stint competing for Central State University.
