ATLANTA, Monique Hennagan, a world-class UPS employee-athlete, was named to the U.S. Olympic Team after her performance in the U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Track and Field in Sacramento, CA.
In Sydney, Hennagan may be slated to run in the opening round and possibly the quarterfinals of the U.S. Women’s 4×400 meter relay and remain as an alternate for the semifinals and finals. Hennagan, 24, placed 4th in the 400-meter event during the U.S. Olympic Team Trials.
Hennagan, who works part-time in small sort operations for UPS in Columbia, SC, participates in the UPS Athlete Training Assistance Program (ATAP). Created in 1995, ATAP is a unique company initiative resulting from the UPS worldwide Olympic partnership. Eligible part-time and full-time employees from the global workforce, who demonstrate world-class competitive athletic abilities, are eligible for the program. Since the program’s inception, ATAP has helped 34 UPS employee-athletes pursue their Olympic dreams.
‘It’s a challenge to balance both work and training for the Olympic Games,’ said Rosemary Windsor, UPS VP Corporate and Olympic Events. ‘We are proud that the UPS Athlete Training Assistance Program has helped Monique juggle both responsibilities and now due to her hard work and determination, she’s on her way to the Olympic Games in Sydney.’
A Columbia, S.C. native, Hennagan was twice ranked as the top high school 400m runner in the nation and as a senior clocked the ninth fastest time in the 400m. She attended the University of North Carolina on a full track scholarship, where she earned a degree in psychology and African American studies. Hennagan is the first North Carolina woman to win a NCAA title. Her career highlights include – Bronze medallist, 1999 World Indoor 4×400; 3rd in the 400m at the U.S. Outdoor Championship in 1998; 2-time U.S.A. Junior’s championship in the 100m, 200m, 400m and 4×400.
‘Thanks to UPS I am one step closer to my goal of winning an Olympic medal,’ said Hennagan. ‘Maybe I can make that a special delivery for UPS and the people I work with, since they have been so supportive.’
Hennagan joins fellow UPS employee-athlete Ray Dunmeyer of Mahwah, N.J. who has already qualified as a member of the U.S. Judo Paralympic Team for the visually impaired. Hennagan continues to train and compete leading up to the Olympic Games. She recently placed 3rd in the 400m (51:07) at the Bislett Games in Oslo, Norway and plans to run in the DN Galan (Stockholm) and British Grand Prix (London). Hennagan will participate in the pre-Olympic training camp for the U.S. Team in Brisbane, Australia.
UPS is the official express courier and package delivery service of the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia. UPS is the world’s largest express carrier and package delivery company, serving more than 200 countries and territories with nearly 344,000 employees worldwide.
Source: UPS