Olympic Trials Day 1

As I attend my fourth consecutive US Olympic Trials the feeling and belief that this meet is the "World's Greatest Track & Field Meet" comes roaring back to life.  Even with lots of "Oregon Sunshine" (as the locals like to call it) reigning/raining down on the opening day at Hayward Field the competition was fierce and Olympic team spots were awarded and lost.  This meet has a finality that seem both fair and cruel at the same time.  While finishing in the top three is the general consensus of success it's not quite that clear cut.  Time/Distance/and Height standards also come into play and must be met as well.  Virtually all of the favorites moved through in the men's 400 and 800 prelims as well as the women's 100/100H/400/and 800 prelims.  The women's pole vault was cancelled due to the poor jumping conditions.  There were two world records set in the men's decathlon (yes, they keep separate event records within the multi events) which means the American record is in jeopardy.  The only finals on day one were the men's and women's 10K's which had completely different story lines.  The men's race had one distinct favorite along with another for US record holder needing to finish in the top three AND run the Olympic A standard.  The local favorite won as expected and broke the Trials record.  Along they way he helped his teammate (who finished a heartbreaking fourth at the Olympic marathon trials earlier this year) get his A Standard and finish third in a driving almost pounding rain at times.  

*Editor's note....both of those runners train at our track at the University of Utah during specific high altitude training periods. 

The women's race was much different although had an even more exciting finish.  Only four runners in the field had run the Olympic A standard time.  One of those runners announced she will only run the marathon in London.  So unless someone in the field could unleash a huge personal best all the other three runners had to do was finish the race.  One collegiate runner pushed the pace earlier in an attempt to go after the standard, but no one followed and by half way it was apparent that no would reach the standard and the team was set.  Although the race did finish with a flurry down the homestretch for the top three places.  The women's fourth place finisher at the Olympic marathon trials turned into a sprinter in the final 80 meters to run down the pre race favorite and an up and comer collegian who was fresh off of winning the NCAA 10K.  So in a weird twist of qualifying and Olympic standards it was first, fourth, and seventh who will be going to London.  

*Editor's note....The top three in the women's 10K would have likely been different had one notable runner competed.  However, due to being a qualifier in the marathon her and her coach decided that the Trials 10K might be getting "greedy".  So she ran a 10K time trial at a local high school track earlier in the day in a time that would have made it four runners sprinting the final homestretch that evening.  However, she enjoyed cheering on her teammates from the stands with her husband and son who you will see here.  They have also trained at our facility.