No other events were held on Wednesday but the competition will see a full schedule of disciplines on Thursday. Because of this, it often gets overlooked.
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He turned pro after his first semester at East Carolina, earned a silver medal at the 2007 World Championships and gold at the 2008 Olympics. “You have to perform, and there’s a lot of pressure to perform”.
And their success makes for what’s sure to be a cut-throat and thrilling Olympic trials this week in Edmonton. “It was the best atmosphere that I have ever been around”. And while many middle distance and distance runners peak in their late 20s and early 30s, younger or older athletes might excel in one of those skill sets and still be able to compete at the top level. “Heading into Rio, I feel like no matter where you look on the track, you’ve got a realistic medal opportunity, not some stretch hopefuls”.
It was billed as the “Hammer at Hayward”, the Olympic Trials men’s and women’s hammer throws, an event normally resigned to a field way behind the stadium, taking center stage at American track and field’s most storied venue Wednesday.
Finley’s throw came on his second attempt of the day and exceeded his next closest competitor by nine feet. Berry finished ahead of Price in the final standings due to a better second throw.
Gwen Berry, returning from a three-month suspension for using a prohibited medication, and collegian DeAnna Price both threw 73.09 metres to make the USA team. She then moved up to fourth place after her third and final attempt of 207-1. But come 5:03 p.m. on Friday, all 24 runners will get back to the track.
“It’s interesting to listen to people who are passionate and follow the sport closely say, ‘Wow, there’s a changing of the guard, ‘” Siegel said.
QUOTABLE: “Don’t mean to brag, but we’re pretty extraordinary”, Lyles, after he and fellow 18-year-old Norman won their heats in the 200-meter semifinals.
“If we know something’s not right, then we try to build that into their travel schedule”, she said, “so athletes don’t have to make that decision”.
“I’m blessed to have had this opportunity”, he said.
“I’m not going to worry about it too much”, Winkler said.
As for the men, none of the athletes going into the meet had met the Olympic qualifying standard. They had each hoped to reach 252 feet 6 inches at the event.
But none of them hit the mark. The victor, Rudy Winkler, got close. Wilkins was the 1976 Olympic Champion and was a former world record holder. hat shows just what an awesome throw that was by Mason today. His personal-best mark from the qualifying rounds Thursday has him ranked among the top-15 discus throwers in the world this year.
But, Winkler has a good chance of receiving an invitation. He watched from the stands, and said that was the prime motivator to reach this point: He’s now ranked second in the world. Behind him was Conor McCullough, throwing 243-4 on his first throw.
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Oregon’s Greg Skipper, who just finished his senior season with the Ducks, placed 12th overall with a throw of 223-4. But he enjoyed competing wearing his OR jersey on Hayward, something he never got the chance to do before.
