Businesslike track efforts advance Iowans at Olympic Trials

The Salida native led the field in qualifying here on Thursday at Hayward Field with the only throw over 200 feet – 218 feet, 11 inches (66.72 meters), a personal best – a mark that made him the fourth-best performer in trials history. Gabriele Grunewald and Ben Blankenship both advanced to Sunday’s finals.

“All the girls that are here can contend for a medal in Rio, so it’s unfortunate that the way the rules go you can only send three, ” Harrison said.

Malone, Wagner and Borman were the only three javelin throwers who came into the Trials with marks exceeding the Olympic standard. His final throw, a victory lap of sorts, ended up being the second farther of the competition. I know he’s got it in the tank.

“I’m definitely going to go out there and try to win every heat. I don’t want to be so open, so vulnerable, ‘ but ultimately, that’s kind of what we were in for when we were sharing our story and just keeping sights on the fact that this is our story and it is what it is”, said Brown.

NEXT TRIALS: USA Track and Field CEO Max Siegel said at a federation board meeting Saturday that, nice as it would be to firm up the choice, he’s waiting to see how the finances play out with meet organizers in Eugene before deciding whether to bring the Olympic Trials back in 2020.

“We have such great friends and family and support that I think that always helps in the trying times”, said Brown.

In winning by more than 10 meters, Muhammad clocked 52.88 seconds to break the trials record of 52.95 seconds set by Sheena Johnson in 2004.

After graduatiing, he went the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, Calif., for six months. Returning after a year off in a sport as fleeting as track can also mean a lengthy comeback after others have stepped into roles they previously occupied. He also works part-time at GNC and works with local theaters in the area to do behind-stage work.

“It was tough”, Finley said.

Throwing the hammer is so complex that the University of OR officials cleared out Hayward Field, gave free admission to fans and let the hammer throwers take over the infield for a few hours on what is normally an off day in the trials.

Two other Coloradans in the finals field didn’t fare as well. Also making it was Ameer Webb, who finished ahead of high-schoolers Noah Lyles and Michael Norman. 35 of the 50 athletes who have been selected to participate in the Olympics, will be first-time Olympians. He did not make the cut, saying he struggled with soreness and establishing timing.

Kara Winger will chase a seventh national title in the women’s javelin in Saturday’s final.

By the time she finally did, everyone else was gone. “My coach told me, ‘You just have to do the technique.’ That was the main focus, and whatever happened happened”. Erica Bougard, Heather Miller-Koch and Kendell Williams round out the field all trying to at least earn a trip to Rio. “We gotta put on the afterburners and finish out the season strong”.