Oregon’s surprising Deajah Stevens was second at 22.30. Felix qualified last weekend for the 400, but had been dealing with a sore right ankle.
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While the 19 year old came up just a tad short, her performance at the trials is nothing to scoff at.
DIVING FOR RIO: Prandini wasn’t the only one who left her feet trying to get that last spot.
“I feel disappointed. This whole year – that had been what I was working for and so for it to end here it’s disappointing”, Felix said when asked about the end of her double bid.
While Conley’s third place marked the return of a familiar face to the Olympic stage, the biggest news on the final night of the trials was made by a 16-year-old from Scotch Plains, N.J.
“But then when I look back and think about that everything that’s happened I still think it’s pretty incredible”, she added. “I am just here for fun”.
Maggie’s sister Audrey finished 11th in the Olympic Trials with a throw of 160-11.
More importantly he got even with his dad. “Any time I get to wear those colors, it’s a huge day”. “A cool stat is that his first team he made he got second and the second team he won (at the trials); just another step “like father like son”.
The men’s relay pools grew by four names, all of whom have gathered worldwide hardware in relay events. Dyrol Burleson burst onto the scene under coaches Wally Ciochetti and the late Sam Bell and went on to receive the first full scholarship for track at the University of OR under Bill Bowerman. Runner-up Robby Andrews and third-place finisher Ben Blankenship also are headed to Rio.
Kerron Clement, the 2008 Olympic silver medalist, was second after the final hurdle but used his speed to win the men’s 400 hurdles in 48.50 seconds, with Byron Robinson second (48.79) and 2012 Olympic silver medalist Michael Tinsley third (48.82).
Martinez took the third qualifying spot in 4:06.16 in a race where 2011 world champion Jenny Simpson won in 4:04.74 ahead of Shannon Rowbury, who clocked 4:05.39.
It was so serious that she said she was unable to walk properly two months ago. “I think my belief in myself kept me going, and knowing I could be better than I was in 2013. But every Olympic athlete has two or three major struggles their Olympic year, and I definitely faced mine”. “It was a hard decision to make, but it’s paid off. I’m so thankful for that”.
McLaughlin’s time of 54.15 was 1.27 seconds behind first-place finisher Dalilah Muhammad, who won in a trials record 52.88.
But it was the lack of conditioning, not the ankle, that was the problem on Sunday, she said.
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“I didn’t expect all this to happen to me so quickly, but I’m not going to put any pressure on myself”. Coming back from the injury, I wasn’t sure where my fitness was at, and there is always the fear that you’ll never run fast again.
