Lighthouseblog: Highlights of the Olympic Track and Field Trials from Eugene, Oregon July 1-5, 2016

Teare and I drove up from Crescent City, CA. on July 1 and made it to Eugene by 2:00 PM. I was in Hayward Field for the opening ceremonies by 3:30. Two F35’s did a flyover as the final notes of the Star Spangled Banner were played via trumpet.

On the Track:

Ohio’s Brannon Kidder qualified for the semi’s of the 800 meters. Clayton Murphy, of the University of Akron not only qualified for the finals, but ended up winning the trials 800 in 1:44.76. Boris Berian was second in 1:44.94, and Charles Jock was third in 1:45.48.

High schooler Vashti Cunningham qualified for the women’s high jump Olympic team with a leap of 6’4.5. Brittney Reese was one of the better performances of the day with her 23:11.75 in the women’s long jump. Euclid, Ohio’s Jessica Beard competed in the women’s 400 meters, but did not advance to the semi finals. Sandra Richards Ross did not qualifiy in the women’s 400 either. Later, we saw her in the stands hanging out with friends.

In the men’s pole vault, Sam Kendricks set a new meet record in the pole vault with a jump of 19-41/4. Cale Simmons was second with 18-61/4, and Logan Cunningham was third with a vault of 18-41/2.

In the men’s 10,000 meters, Galen Rupp had a lead, fell back to the chase pack, surged again, then was reeled in once more. He let it rip with 600 meters to go to win in 27:55. He had already qualified for the marathon. He came back on July 4 and finished 6th in the first heat of the 5000 meters to qualify for the final. Shadrack Kipchirctir was second in 28:01 and Leonared Korir was third in 28:16. Both Kipchirctir and Korir run for the US Army.

On day one of the decathlon, Ashton Eaton started things on the right foot with a win in the 100 meters with a 10.33. Jeremy Taiwo took the overall lead in the decathlon but Eaton regained the lead after the long jump and 400 meters. On day two, Garrett Scantling won the decathlon shot put with a 52’04. Hardee and Brondyke were 2-3. Ziemak (from U. Wisconsin) was 6th and Eaton was 7th. Taiwo won the decathlon high jump with a 7’03 and Ziemak was second with a jump of 6’10. The decathlon, always one of my favorite events, came down to the 10th and final event to determine the final outcome and US Olympic team. Jeremy Taiwo was sitting in 4th place following Eaton, Ziemak, and Scantling after nine events. As they approached the 1500 meters, the final event, Taiwo had to beat Scantling by 14 seconds in order to move ahead of him in points awarded for the 1500. Taiwo took the lead from the gun and finished in a strong second place finish in the event. He gapped Scantling by over 200 meters and made his first Olympic decathlon team.

Molly Huddle won the women’s 10,000 meters with a 31:41. Cleveland Beaumont’s Emily Infeld was second in 31:46, and Marielle Hall third in 31:54. The Olympic standard is 32:15, so all three are qualified to compete in Rio.

On July 4th, Bridget Franek from Mantua Crestwood High School in Mantua, Ohio won her heat of the 3000 meter steeplechase in 9:39.93. Emma Coburn, an Olympian from 2012, won heat three in 9:35.28, to set the stage for a possible second Olympic team for Bridget Franek.

Finally, the stage is set for a great 5000 meter final with several names we recognize and some new faces qualifying out of 2 heats on Tuesday. From heat one: William Kincaid (13:47.86), Ryan Hill, Ben True, Jeff See (from Columbus, Ohio and Ohio State), Shadrack Kipchirchir (10,000 qualifier), Diego Estrada, Riley Masters, Garrett Heath and Sean McGorty.

From Heat two: Bernard Lagat (13:48.36), Lopez Lomong, Eric Jenkins, Hassan Mead, Paul Chelimo, and Galen Rupp.

Finally, there was the women’s 800 meter, which provided the drama for the trials to this point. All eight competitors held PR’s under 2:00 going into the final. With a possible clip and an alleged push with 130 meters to go, the two favorites were knocked out of the race. Unheralded Katie Grace won in a PR 1:59.10. Ajee Wilson was second in 1:59.51, and Chrishuna Williams was third in 1:59.59. With 150 meters to go, Brenda Martinez, one of the favorites, moved wide to begin her kick. Alysia Montano and Molly Ludlow did the same. In the middle of it all, Martinez claimed she had her foot clipped from behind causing her to veer out of her lane. Montano stumbled, made contact with another runner, and rolled head over heels causing the crowd of 21,713 to make a collective gasp. Grace flew past Wilson and Rogers and Williams barely hung on for third, despite a strong finish by Ludlow. This was especially painful to watch as Ludlow finished in fourth and one spot off the Olympic team in 2012. Montano dropped to her knees in emotional agony several times in the final 120 meters which was equally tough to watch.

Off the Track:

The trials are also about the fellow track fans as well as the action we are all here to see. Our contingent includes brothers Art Reedy & Jim Reedy. Friends Hal and Barbara Gerspacher, and Teare and myself staying in the dormitory. Brett and Betsy Amstutz joined us for a couple days, and attended two days of action at the trials. Julie Gauvreau, and friends Tom Sherwood and Tom Dann (former competitor from Wittenburg) are also here.

Outside of our immediate group, we have run into Bernie and Tom Weber, Matt McGowan (RunOhio Magazine, and former competitor from Ohio Northern U.), and Tim Breiner from The College of Wooster. Walking around the expo, we ran into a gang of former competitors from Mount Union and Austintown High School, including Rich Kempe and Bob Lunn. Kelani Nuckols, from Mount Union and formerly of Cloverleaf High School is here as well. Kelani, like Tim Breiner did not recognize me at first due to my lighthouse keeper beard and mustache. Today, Teare and I went bike riding around town and saw the Eugene premier of the movie “Tracktown” with Kelani at a downtown theatre.

As always, there are former Olympians walking around the venue and out and about. We have talked with Ed Caruthers (silver in '68 High Jump), John Carlos (bronze '68 200) and Craig Virgin ('76, '84 Olympian in 10,000). I saw Craig Masback, track announcer and former miler while jogging out on Pre’s Trail.

We stay in a dormitory which is litterally caddy-corner to Hayward Field where the Olympic Trials are being contested. We eat in a cafeteria which is part of our dormitory complex. The food is healthy, abundant, and good. We are having a great time.

Today, July 5, was the first of two rest days. Art and Jim took a road trip to see Brett and Betsy in Redding, California. Barb Gerspacher returned from Bend where she was visiting her sister Linda, and Teare, Hal and I stayed in Eugene and enjoyed the parks and bike trails.

I will provide at least one more recap of the action from Eugene. Until then, we hope everyone is well. Thanks for joining us at the Olympic Trials! Here are a few photos of our time in Eugene.