Day 4 featured plenty of drama for clear favorites. World leader in the high jump, Jesse Williams finished fourth but will go to London because the 3rd place finisher doesn't have the Olympic A Standard. Multi time US Champ Jamie Nieto and NCAA Champ Erik Kynard will join Williams.
Nick Symmonds came from seventh place with 300m to go to blow by the field and run a world leading 1:43.92 (fastest time ever by an American at Hayward Field). He was followed by the ageless KD Robinson who at age 35 is an Olympian for the second time ('04) after finishing 4th in '08.
In the women's 800, front runner and favorite Alysia Montano held off the field down the homestretch to make her first team.
The women's TJ and men's jav had similar storylines surrounding the Olympic A standards that determined those trips to London. Only one TJ'er, champion Amanda Smock, who has the B standard will go. In the Jav it was 3-4-5 who will go to London because the top two don't have the mark and both just missed it. Winner Sam Humphries of Texas A&M missed the mark by about five inches.
The men's distance races saw virtually all of those expected to qualify do just that. A questionable decision by USATF to allow Alan Webb into the 5K field reared it's ugly head as the one time phenom faded hard in the last mile and failed to qualify.
The women's distance races were much different as a few favorites faded while there were a couple surprise qualifiers. A former US Indoor champion, a former NCAA champion, and the third fastest 5K'er this year all failed to advance while reigning US champion Lauren Fleshman qualified despite only running 12 miles a week since March due to IT Band problems.
Former Ute and school record holder in the Steeple (10:43), Shayla Houlihan ran among the leaders for the first four laps in her prelim. However, she faded over the final three laps and failed to qualify. As her coach, I know she was disappointed about not making the final, but qualifying for this meet was a major goal of hers as she began to improve throughout college and into her post collegiate career. She improved nearly two minutes from her very first steeple as a sophomore to her current PR of 9:51. I am proud of her effort and commitment to improving and reaching one of her big goals.
The men's vault qualifying saw some familiar faces along with some up and comer collegians advance despite abysmal vaulting conditions that featured swirling head winds and a constant mist.
Break Time....the trials will resume on Thursday. I'll be back with more pics and notes then. Todays pics....the wet start of the women's steeple prelims, 800m Men's Champ Nick Symmonds straight from the track to celebrating in uniform, and a special treat....World Record Holder in the 400m hurdles (46.79, 1992) Kevin Young enjoy some nightlife in Eugene after session one. That dude could probably still break 50 seconds. He looked fit!
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