Hamden native Alexis Holmes has advanced to the women’s 400-meter final at the Paris Olympics after finishing second in her heat with a time of 50 seconds. Cheshire Academy, where Holmes graduated in 2018, hosted a watch party to support her. Head of School Julie Anderson praised Holmes’ competitive spirit and expressed hope for her success in the final.
Holmes arrived in Paris with a personal best time of 49.78, which she achieved during the U.S. Olympic Team Trials. In the semifinal, she fell behind early but a strong performance in the final stretch allowed her to finish second and secure her spot in the Olympic final.
Faculty members at Cheshire Academy praised Holmes for her resilience and determination, with teacher Joe Long expressing pride in her performance. Holmes is the only American woman to advance to the 400m final.
Students and faculty at the watch party discussed Holmes’ influence beyond the track, with Anderson emphasizing the importance of her success as a source of inspiration for young people. The school will host another watch party for the final, and viewers can also tune in to NBC and Peacock to watch Holmes compete for gold at 2 p.m. ET.
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Photo credit www.nbcconnecticut.com
