Daundre Barnaby Races onto Canada's 2012 Olympic Team

STARKVILLE, Miss. - Historically 14 Mississippi State athletes have traded their Maroon and White for the colors of their homeland and this week they added one more to their fold, as Daundre Barnaby ran his way onto the Canadian Olympic Team.

Since arriving at MSU the senior has enjoyed success, including 2011 All SEC and All American honors in the 4x400-meter relay. Also in 2011 Barnaby was member of the SEC Championship 4x400 meter relay squad. This past year Barnaby again earned All-American honors with his performance in the 400-meter dash and 4x400-meter relay.

It is these successes and his time at MSU that Barnaby credits with helping him in this next step.

"I just want to thank the coaches and trainers at State," Barnaby said. "They gave me the knowledge and strength I needed to succeed."

The Bulldog is now enjoying another round of success as he won the 2012 Canadian 400 meter dash Championship (46.00) to place himself into the pool of Olympic hopefuls. After winning the Championship, Barnaby's entire body of work was taken into consideration where his personal best time of 45.67 at the NCAA Championships met qualifying standards and earned Barnaby the chance to wear Canada's Red and White.

"I am extremely proud of Barnaby, as I know the whole staff and team at MSU are," stated coach Steve Dudley. "His success is testament to that with proper training and hard work, anyone can achieve their dream.

By earning his position on Canada's team, Barnaby is following in the footsteps on another great Bulldog. Pierre Brown, who raced for Mississippi State in the early 2000s, also represented our neighbors to the north as he competed in the 2000 and 2004 Olympic Games.

Barnaby and his fellow Olympians will travel to London, England, where they will engage in competition July 27 - August 12.