After a few days of mostly prelims and semi-finals, the US Olympic track & field trials are heating up. With the unpredictable Oregon weather improving, more impressive performances have gone down as the team heading to London takes shape.
Jennifer Suhr, the American record holder in the pole vault, will be returning to the Olympic Games after winning her event with a 15 feet 1 inch vault and will compete against world record holder Yelena Isinbayeva of Russia for the gold. The men's long jump team will be led by University of Texas athlete Marquise Goodwin (27-4) and includes George Kitchens, Jr, who came out of nowhere to grab the necessary Olympic A-standard by 0.25 inch. In the men's shotput, the three guys who were looking the best out of the semis, Reese Hoffa, Ryan Whiting, and Christian Cantwell, punched their tickets to London with their 1-2-3 finish. All three of them will be contenders for medals. LaShawn Merritt ran a huge 44.12 in the 400 meter to become US champion, followed by University of Florida standout Tony McQuay (44.49) and USC's Bryshon Nellum (44.80) who has only been running for a couple years after getting shot in the legs by two gang members a few years ago. Although I don't like USC, it was inspirational to see Nellum defy the odds and make such an exceptional comeback and PR to make the Olympic team. These three will undoubtedly continue to demonstrate the US's dominance in the quarter-mile sprint. On the women's side, Sanya Richards-Ross continued to dominate her favorite event and maintain her status as favorite to win the 400 meter gold when she set a meet record in 49.28. Dee Dee Trotter and Francena McCorory, the latter a rising star in the women's 400, got the other two spots in 50.02 and 50.43, respectively. In one of the most anticipated events of the trials, Justin Gatlin sprinted to a personal best in the 100 meter when he won it in a blazing 9.80 seconds, beating out American record holder Tyson Gay, who had a bad start, by a decent 0.06 seconds. Ryan Bailey, who, judging by his reaction right after the race, far exceeded his own expectations when he crossed the line third in 9.93. Walter Dix, one of the US's top sprinters, was Day 4's last competitor as he finished last in nearly 11 seconds due to a muscle he pulled at the end of his semi-final heat. Both Gatlin and Gay will very likely be the world's best challengers to Jamaica's dominance in the event and will have a lot of pressure on them. Gatlin, with his improved start, will probably be the event's dark horse, as he seems to have a lot of potential he's yet to utilize.
Probably the most unnerving event of Day 5 (at least for the competitors) was the men's high jump, where, due to two other athletes having the A-standard and a third threatening to grab it, favorite Jesse Williams looked like he was going to exit the trials without a ticket to London. On his final jump, however, Williams got into fourth and and made the team when Nick Ross failed to pull the upset by getting the A-standard. The three Olympians all leapt 7-5.75. The women's triple jump saw only one athlete qualify for the Olympics when Amanda Smock took her three steps in 45 feet 9 inches to win the competition. The event I was probably looking forward to the most, the men's 800 final, was won by Nick Symmonds in 1:43.92, 0.16 seconds off his PB. Symmonds, as usual, came from behind to outkick the field and qualify for his second Olympic Games. Khadevis Robinson finished two-thirds of a second behind (1:44.64) to barely beat out Duane Solomon, Jr for second by a hundredth of a second. UCSB's Ryan Martin, who I really wanted to make the team, came fourth a quarter of a second later, making up a formidable deficit with 100 meters to go and was the first collegiate finisher. If the race had been a bit longer, Martin might have made his first Olympic team. Charles Jock, Martins's arch-rival while they competed in the Big West conference, wound up last in a disappointing 1:49.02 after leading the first lap. Symmonds is easily the US's best chance at a medal and, if he runs a great race, will get one I think. Although he says he will be competing for gold, I can't imagine anyone, even him, upsetting the amazing Kenyan (and world record-holder) David Rudisha.
After two days of rest, the trials continued with Day 8. American record-holder Brad Walker won the pole vault with a 18-7.25 vault while Lance Brooks came out of nowhere in the discus to win in 213-9 on his last throw, six inches beyond the A-standard he was trying so hard to get. In the men's 3000 steeplechase, where athletes hurdle several large, wide hurdles (one of them with a water pit at the end)1 a lap for nearly two miles, Evan Jager, who had hardly any experience in the event, won in 8:17.40, followed by NCAA champ Donn Cabral of Princeton (8:19.81) and surprise Kyle Alcorn (8:22.17). The two most exciting races of the day, however, were the men's and women's 5000. On the women's side, Julie Culley outkicked American record-holder Molly Huddle to win in 15:13.77 to 15:14.40, while Kim Conley was third in 15:19.79. Dartmouth's Abbey D'Agostino, who was running for fun as much as for competition, was a surprise when she finished fifth two-hundredths of a second under the A-standard. Julia Lucas, who many thought would make the team, died badly2 after leading two quick laps toward the end and got edged out of third by four-hundredths of a second. The men's side featured a huge match-up between American distance greats Galen Rupp and the ageless Bernard Lagat.3 Both remained at the head of the chase pack until about two laps to go when they took off with a few others. With one lap to go, Rupp, who was competing on his home track at Hayward Field, took the lead before Lagat passed him with about 150 meters to go. Despite Lagat's often phenomenal kick, Rupp responded surprisingly well and passed Lagat to break the legendary Steve Prefontaine's meet record in 13:22.67 (Lagat finished in 13:22.82). Rupp became the first person to win both the 5k and 10k at the championships in decades. Lopez Lomong, one of the Lost Boys of Sudan and usually a 1500/800 guy, rounded out the top three in 13:24.47. Despite east Africa's dominance in the 5000, Rupp and Lagat (who himself is from Kenya) will challenge for medals in London.
1 Unlike regular hurdles which can be easily knocked over if an athlete hits them, steeplechase barriers don't budge when they're hit and will brutally throw down any runner who trips or hits them.
2 To "die" in running is just to fade really, really badly after running too hard earlier. Lucas didn't actually kick the bucket at the finish.
3 Lagat, who's 37 years old, is still one of the best distance runners in the world despite his relatively old age.
Jennifer Suhr, the American record holder in the pole vault, will be returning to the Olympic Games after winning her event with a 15 feet 1 inch vault and will compete against world record holder Yelena Isinbayeva of Russia for the gold. The men's long jump team will be led by University of Texas athlete Marquise Goodwin (27-4) and includes George Kitchens, Jr, who came out of nowhere to grab the necessary Olympic A-standard by 0.25 inch. In the men's shotput, the three guys who were looking the best out of the semis, Reese Hoffa, Ryan Whiting, and Christian Cantwell, punched their tickets to London with their 1-2-3 finish. All three of them will be contenders for medals. LaShawn Merritt ran a huge 44.12 in the 400 meter to become US champion, followed by University of Florida standout Tony McQuay (44.49) and USC's Bryshon Nellum (44.80) who has only been running for a couple years after getting shot in the legs by two gang members a few years ago. Although I don't like USC, it was inspirational to see Nellum defy the odds and make such an exceptional comeback and PR to make the Olympic team. These three will undoubtedly continue to demonstrate the US's dominance in the quarter-mile sprint. On the women's side, Sanya Richards-Ross continued to dominate her favorite event and maintain her status as favorite to win the 400 meter gold when she set a meet record in 49.28. Dee Dee Trotter and Francena McCorory, the latter a rising star in the women's 400, got the other two spots in 50.02 and 50.43, respectively. In one of the most anticipated events of the trials, Justin Gatlin sprinted to a personal best in the 100 meter when he won it in a blazing 9.80 seconds, beating out American record holder Tyson Gay, who had a bad start, by a decent 0.06 seconds. Ryan Bailey, who, judging by his reaction right after the race, far exceeded his own expectations when he crossed the line third in 9.93. Walter Dix, one of the US's top sprinters, was Day 4's last competitor as he finished last in nearly 11 seconds due to a muscle he pulled at the end of his semi-final heat. Both Gatlin and Gay will very likely be the world's best challengers to Jamaica's dominance in the event and will have a lot of pressure on them. Gatlin, with his improved start, will probably be the event's dark horse, as he seems to have a lot of potential he's yet to utilize.
Probably the most unnerving event of Day 5 (at least for the competitors) was the men's high jump, where, due to two other athletes having the A-standard and a third threatening to grab it, favorite Jesse Williams looked like he was going to exit the trials without a ticket to London. On his final jump, however, Williams got into fourth and and made the team when Nick Ross failed to pull the upset by getting the A-standard. The three Olympians all leapt 7-5.75. The women's triple jump saw only one athlete qualify for the Olympics when Amanda Smock took her three steps in 45 feet 9 inches to win the competition. The event I was probably looking forward to the most, the men's 800 final, was won by Nick Symmonds in 1:43.92, 0.16 seconds off his PB. Symmonds, as usual, came from behind to outkick the field and qualify for his second Olympic Games. Khadevis Robinson finished two-thirds of a second behind (1:44.64) to barely beat out Duane Solomon, Jr for second by a hundredth of a second. UCSB's Ryan Martin, who I really wanted to make the team, came fourth a quarter of a second later, making up a formidable deficit with 100 meters to go and was the first collegiate finisher. If the race had been a bit longer, Martin might have made his first Olympic team. Charles Jock, Martins's arch-rival while they competed in the Big West conference, wound up last in a disappointing 1:49.02 after leading the first lap. Symmonds is easily the US's best chance at a medal and, if he runs a great race, will get one I think. Although he says he will be competing for gold, I can't imagine anyone, even him, upsetting the amazing Kenyan (and world record-holder) David Rudisha.
After two days of rest, the trials continued with Day 8. American record-holder Brad Walker won the pole vault with a 18-7.25 vault while Lance Brooks came out of nowhere in the discus to win in 213-9 on his last throw, six inches beyond the A-standard he was trying so hard to get. In the men's 3000 steeplechase, where athletes hurdle several large, wide hurdles (one of them with a water pit at the end)1 a lap for nearly two miles, Evan Jager, who had hardly any experience in the event, won in 8:17.40, followed by NCAA champ Donn Cabral of Princeton (8:19.81) and surprise Kyle Alcorn (8:22.17). The two most exciting races of the day, however, were the men's and women's 5000. On the women's side, Julie Culley outkicked American record-holder Molly Huddle to win in 15:13.77 to 15:14.40, while Kim Conley was third in 15:19.79. Dartmouth's Abbey D'Agostino, who was running for fun as much as for competition, was a surprise when she finished fifth two-hundredths of a second under the A-standard. Julia Lucas, who many thought would make the team, died badly2 after leading two quick laps toward the end and got edged out of third by four-hundredths of a second. The men's side featured a huge match-up between American distance greats Galen Rupp and the ageless Bernard Lagat.3 Both remained at the head of the chase pack until about two laps to go when they took off with a few others. With one lap to go, Rupp, who was competing on his home track at Hayward Field, took the lead before Lagat passed him with about 150 meters to go. Despite Lagat's often phenomenal kick, Rupp responded surprisingly well and passed Lagat to break the legendary Steve Prefontaine's meet record in 13:22.67 (Lagat finished in 13:22.82). Rupp became the first person to win both the 5k and 10k at the championships in decades. Lopez Lomong, one of the Lost Boys of Sudan and usually a 1500/800 guy, rounded out the top three in 13:24.47. Despite east Africa's dominance in the 5000, Rupp and Lagat (who himself is from Kenya) will challenge for medals in London.
1 Unlike regular hurdles which can be easily knocked over if an athlete hits them, steeplechase barriers don't budge when they're hit and will brutally throw down any runner who trips or hits them.
2 To "die" in running is just to fade really, really badly after running too hard earlier. Lucas didn't actually kick the bucket at the finish.
3 Lagat, who's 37 years old, is still one of the best distance runners in the world despite his relatively old age.
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