Photo by: Nate Barrett
Eaton, Gardner Crowned U.S. Champs
07/03/16 | Track and Field
EUGENE, Ore. – Former Oregon athletes English Gardner and Ashton Eaton were crowned U.S. Champions on the third day of the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials, Sunday, while school-record holder Phyllis Francis will join them in Rio as part of the U.S. 400 meter team.
Gardner, one of three Ducks in the final, was pushed to the finish line while picking up her second national championships in the event. The three-time NCAA Champion out-leaned Tianna Bartoletta to win in 10.74 seconds, winning by four hundredths of a second in the fastest time in the world this year.
"When I crossed the line and I see the results, I didn't really care if I was first second or third, I was just excited that I made the team," Gardner said.
The win marked some redemption for Gardner who finished seventh at the 2012 Trials. That feeling of narrowly missing the Olympic team was fresh in her mind coming in to 2016.
"It broke my heart because it was something I wanted since I was nine years old." Gardner said. "So for now to be able to say that I'm on an Olympic Team is a pure blessing in itself."
The win was a little less dramatic for defending Olympic Gold Medalist Ashton Eaton, but no less satisfying. Eaton finished the day with 8,750 points to win by more than 300 points.
"I learned a lot here," he said. "Competing very smoothly, not too aggressively, and still scoring very well."
Current Duck Mitch Modin took seventh in the decathlon after a tremendous weekend. The junior set a personal best in the 110 hurdles today to make for three total PRs during the two days. Modin tallied a total of 7,785 points, more than 200 points higher than his previous record to move him up to eighth on the school record list. The native of Bend, Ore., said the performance would propel him next year into a competitive NCAA field.
"Now I know that this is where I need to be and I know that I can get to that level," Modin said. " So having this as a stepping stone is great."
In her first appearance in a Trials final, Phyllis Francis rose to the occasion as she did so many times in an Oregon uniform. Francis finished second behind Allyson Felix, smashing her lifetime best and finishing in 49.94. It was a late charge that clinched Olympic spots for both Felix and Francis. Each were out of qualifying position coming off the Bowerman Curve before surging to the front of the pack.
Gardner was the first in a row of six Ducks in the semifinals of the 100. Jenna Prandini and Ariana Washington joined her in the final, finishing fifth (10.96) and sixth (11.01), respectively. Both will be considered to join the Olympic team as part of the relay pool. Deajah Stevens was the first athlete out of the final, missing the cut by only one hundredth of a second. Mandy White and Jasmine Todd also took part in the semifinal, running 11.24 and 11.30, respectively.
What to Watch on Monday:
Raevyn Rogers will try to continue her sensational run through the qualifying rounds with the 800-meter final at 5:42 p.m. on Monday. The position will be different than any Rogers has faced this season. The three-time NCAA Champion now has a target on her back in every collegiate race she enters. She will come into tomorrow's race as the youngest athlete in the field in the field looking to bust the form charts and punch her ticket to Rio. She will have her work cut out for her as all competitors in the eight person final have broken two minutes in their career.
Sam Crouser and Cyrus Hostetler will be in contention for an Olympic spot as well. The duo finished fifth and sixth in the javelin qualifying on Saturday and will take part in the final which begins at 4:15 p.m. Each will be attempting to make their first Olympic teams. The former Ducks enter the competition as two of three competitors who have already reached the Olympic qualifying standard.
Galen Rupp will begin the qualification process for his third event after winning U.S. titles in both the marathon and 10,000. He'll run alongside Nike Oregon Project teammate Eric Jenkins in the 5,000 prelims which begin at 5:02 p.m. Megan Patrignelli and redshirt junior Brianna Nerud will begin qualifying rounds in the steeplechase to start competition for the Ducks at 4:03 p.m.
Sunday Schedule (Oregon Entrants)
3:30 p.m. – Men's pole vault final
4:03 p.m. – Women's steeplechase first round (Megan Patrignelli, Brianna Nerud)
4:15 p.m. – Women's triple jump qualifying
4:25 p.m. – Men's javelin final (Sam Crouser, Cyrus Hostetler)
4:33 p.m. – Men's steeplechase first round
5:02 p.m. – Men's 5,000 first round (Eric Jenkins, Galen Rupp)
5:42 p.m. – Women's 800 final (Raevyn Rogers)
5:51 p.m. – Men's 800 final
Gardner, one of three Ducks in the final, was pushed to the finish line while picking up her second national championships in the event. The three-time NCAA Champion out-leaned Tianna Bartoletta to win in 10.74 seconds, winning by four hundredths of a second in the fastest time in the world this year.
"When I crossed the line and I see the results, I didn't really care if I was first second or third, I was just excited that I made the team," Gardner said.
The win marked some redemption for Gardner who finished seventh at the 2012 Trials. That feeling of narrowly missing the Olympic team was fresh in her mind coming in to 2016.
"It broke my heart because it was something I wanted since I was nine years old." Gardner said. "So for now to be able to say that I'm on an Olympic Team is a pure blessing in itself."
The win was a little less dramatic for defending Olympic Gold Medalist Ashton Eaton, but no less satisfying. Eaton finished the day with 8,750 points to win by more than 300 points.
"I learned a lot here," he said. "Competing very smoothly, not too aggressively, and still scoring very well."
Current Duck Mitch Modin took seventh in the decathlon after a tremendous weekend. The junior set a personal best in the 110 hurdles today to make for three total PRs during the two days. Modin tallied a total of 7,785 points, more than 200 points higher than his previous record to move him up to eighth on the school record list. The native of Bend, Ore., said the performance would propel him next year into a competitive NCAA field.
"Now I know that this is where I need to be and I know that I can get to that level," Modin said. " So having this as a stepping stone is great."
In her first appearance in a Trials final, Phyllis Francis rose to the occasion as she did so many times in an Oregon uniform. Francis finished second behind Allyson Felix, smashing her lifetime best and finishing in 49.94. It was a late charge that clinched Olympic spots for both Felix and Francis. Each were out of qualifying position coming off the Bowerman Curve before surging to the front of the pack.
Gardner was the first in a row of six Ducks in the semifinals of the 100. Jenna Prandini and Ariana Washington joined her in the final, finishing fifth (10.96) and sixth (11.01), respectively. Both will be considered to join the Olympic team as part of the relay pool. Deajah Stevens was the first athlete out of the final, missing the cut by only one hundredth of a second. Mandy White and Jasmine Todd also took part in the semifinal, running 11.24 and 11.30, respectively.
What to Watch on Monday:
Raevyn Rogers will try to continue her sensational run through the qualifying rounds with the 800-meter final at 5:42 p.m. on Monday. The position will be different than any Rogers has faced this season. The three-time NCAA Champion now has a target on her back in every collegiate race she enters. She will come into tomorrow's race as the youngest athlete in the field in the field looking to bust the form charts and punch her ticket to Rio. She will have her work cut out for her as all competitors in the eight person final have broken two minutes in their career.
Sam Crouser and Cyrus Hostetler will be in contention for an Olympic spot as well. The duo finished fifth and sixth in the javelin qualifying on Saturday and will take part in the final which begins at 4:15 p.m. Each will be attempting to make their first Olympic teams. The former Ducks enter the competition as two of three competitors who have already reached the Olympic qualifying standard.
Galen Rupp will begin the qualification process for his third event after winning U.S. titles in both the marathon and 10,000. He'll run alongside Nike Oregon Project teammate Eric Jenkins in the 5,000 prelims which begin at 5:02 p.m. Megan Patrignelli and redshirt junior Brianna Nerud will begin qualifying rounds in the steeplechase to start competition for the Ducks at 4:03 p.m.
Sunday Schedule (Oregon Entrants)
3:30 p.m. – Men's pole vault final
4:03 p.m. – Women's steeplechase first round (Megan Patrignelli, Brianna Nerud)
4:15 p.m. – Women's triple jump qualifying
4:25 p.m. – Men's javelin final (Sam Crouser, Cyrus Hostetler)
4:33 p.m. – Men's steeplechase first round
5:02 p.m. – Men's 5,000 first round (Eric Jenkins, Galen Rupp)
5:42 p.m. – Women's 800 final (Raevyn Rogers)
5:51 p.m. – Men's 800 final
Players Mentioned
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