Campbell sets trials record, makes Olympics in hammer throw

“You get all of the fans clapping for you, and you get pumped up and ready to put everything you have into each throw”.

And with that kind of attention, the women did not disappoint.

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.

“I was just trying to relax and let it fly”, Campbell said.

The athletes also appreciated competing at Hayward.

East Carolina senior jumper Avion Jones will attempt to become the third Olympian in program history this weekend when he competes in the high jump at the United States Track and Field Olympic Trials at Hayward Field on the campus of the University of Oregon.

UNC-Chapel Hill hurdler R.J. Alowanle said he’s enjoyed his experience in Eugene and is appreciative of the enthusiastic crowd. It has been an wonderful ride. “I thought I’d chance this dream one more time, but I fell a little short”. It sucks right now. At some point it has to come to an end.

Kruger sent the hammer 240 feet, 6 inches, on his second throw of the competition. She’s a three-time NCAA Division II champion in the event and broke her own record at the NCAA championship in May. “This is probably as competitive as it has been. A great friend and mentor once said to me ‘Athletes and dancers die two deaths.’ Every time I see that I get a little chocked up”. “It was my first meet against pros and everything”. She said, in tears, that she wasn’t sure yet, but retirement is in her near future. Michelle Carter did qualify in the shot put, but ultimately finished in fifth place in the finals.

Campbell eventually went on to win the women’s hammer final, but the competition was intense.

The day will conclude with the 3,000 steeplechase, featuring Emma Coburn and Shalaya Kipp, veterans who were both a part of the 2012 Olympic team. He’s hot off his first world championship and running at his home track here at OR, so it promises to be a good show.

O’Connor recently wrote about the journey from collegian to Olympic hopeful on her personal blog. Making it instead were three first-timers: Kate Grace, Ajee Wilson and Chrishuna Williams. “I felt like a lot of things were taken from me this season”. “Winning is surreal, but it hasn’t really sunk in that I might not go. It was the best atmosphere that I have ever been around”.