Raven Saunders finished second in the shot put, just behind one of her role models, Michelle Carter, and qualified for the Rio Olympics as a sophomore in college. Photo by Dillon Vibes.
On the first of some rainy days heading into the U.S. Olympic Trials, athletes toughed out the wet conditions to set new meet records and add nine Olympians to the Rio-bound team. Read our pieces on individual events and athletes below.
Romaine Soh covered the women’s steeplechase, which was the only track final of the day. Heavy favorite Emma Coburn claimed her fifth national title to make her second Olympic team. Joining her in Rio are Bowerman Track Club ladies Courtney Frerichs (2016 NCAA champion) and Colleen Quigley (2015 NCAA champion).
Keeler McJunkin told the story of Michelle Carter’s decade-long dominance in the shot put. Her last throw propelled her from third to first, safely qualifying for her third Olympic team. Her experience at last year’s Worlds and the London Olympics has taught her how to deal with the pressure well.
After setting a new collegiate record at the NCAAs, Raven Saunders made her first Olympic team with a second-place finish. For the first time in U.S. trials history, seven throwers in the women’s shot put exceeded 60 feet. Emma Decker wrote this for the Clarion Ledger in Jackson, Mississippi.
Former USF All-American Matthew O’Neal set a PR to emerge as the top qualifier for the men’s triple jump. The field was loaded with three former Florida Gators, including American record holder Christian Taylor, 2014 U.S. champion Will Claye and two-time U.S. champion Omar Craddock. Romaine Soh wrote this for the Tampa Bay Times.
Isaac Gibson follows Tim White’s struggles through his homelessness to being a double sports star for the Arizona State Sun Devils. White plans to focus on football and do track “part-time.” This was published for the Arizona Republic.
The men’s high hurdles qualifying rounds start Friday. All eyes are on 2012 Olympic champion Aries Merritt to see how he is recovering from his kidney transplant. However, the younger competition, such as upcoming Oregon star Devon Allen, cannot be discounted. Romaine Soh covered this for the Arizona Republic.
Also writing for the Arizona Republic was Zac Neel, who caught up with distance runner Kellyn Taylor. Taylor just missed making the U.S. Olympic marathon team (she finished sixth at the trials) and the 10,000 meters (she finished fourth), but is still in contention for a berth in the 5,000 meters.
