Erison Hurtault

School — Columbia (2007)
Country — Dominica
Hometown — Aberdeen, N.J.
Event — 400m (NBC Preview)
Event First Round — Sat., August 4, 5:35 am Eastern
Event Semifinals — Sun., August 5, 3:40 pm Eastern
Event Finals — Mon., August 6, 4:30 pm Eastern

Erison Hurtault is among the best long sprinter to ever come out of the Ivy League, which puts him in unbelievable company with those like John Baxter Taylor, Bill Carr, Charlie Moore and Wendell Mottley. Hurtault was a perfect eight-for-eight in Heps’ 400m titles, topping it off with two All-American accolades and a Penn Relays 4x800m Championship of America wheel in his senior year.

By the time he graduated in 2007, he held the League indoor 400m record (46.34) and his outdoor collegiate best of 45.40 remains the best pure 400-meter time in conference history (note: Mottley’s 45.34 time from the 1964 Olympics is converted from 440 yards).

Hurtault was selected to represent Dominica in the 2008 Olympics as his parents were born on that island country, which is not to be confused with the Dominican Republic. In Beijing, Hurtault finished fourth in his qualifying heat, but did not advance to the finals. He has continued to represent Dominica at the indoor and outdoor IAAF World Championships, making it to the semifinals at each championship.

When he is not running, Hurtault is busy making a difference for his ancestral homeland by gathering track & field apparel for distribution to aspiring Dominica athletes. He will be that nation’s flag bearer at the Opening Ceremonies.

Additional resources:
New York Press: Olympic Sprinters Trained In Central Park
ArmoryTrack.com: A Sprint In The Park
New York Times: One Runner With Two Olympic Chances in 400 (2008)
Columbia College Today: Hurtault Looks to 2012 London Olympics
HepsTrack.com: Heps Nation Comes Through
Inside Columbia Athletics: Olympics Preview