Wheating, Yurkovich Advance at U.S. Olympic Trials
EUGENE, Ore. ? Oregon’s Andrew Wheating and Rachel Yurkovich have both advanced through qualifying rounds to Monday’s final of their respective events at the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials, which run through next Sunday at Historic Hayward Field.
Wheating, a sophomore from Norwich, Vt., won his 800 meters preliminary heat on Friday by running 1:47.85. He then advanced to Monday’s final by finishing second in Saturday’s semifinal race. Wheating crossed the line in 1:46.23, trailing only Khadevis Robinson (1:46.14).
“Before the race, I was feeling terrible, but right now I feel pumped,” said Wheating. “That last 100 really got me going. I am ready for Monday.
"There were a few people calling my name. I guess I am not a guy from the middle of nowhere now."
The top three finishers from Monday’s final will represent the United States at the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing. Among those Wheating will race against are Nick Symmonds and Christian Smith of Oregon Track Club Elite. Symmonds had the top semifinal time (1:45.61). Duane Solomon of USC, who finished second to Wheating at both the Pacific-10 Conference and NCAA West Regional championships earlier this spring, is also in the final.
"I feel honored to represent Tracktown, USA. And we have a lot of other athletes who do that as well," said Wheating following his preliminary win on Friday.
Yurkovich, a junior from Newberg, Ore., was disappointed with her preliminary throw in the women’s javelin of 172-5 on Saturday morning, but throwing into a strong head wind, her effort ended up being the sixth-best mark of the day.
“I felt fine,” said Yurkovich before she found out she made Monday’s final with 15 feet to spare. “I don't know how it will go, it just depends on how everyone else throws. I just didn't have it today apparently. I just feel like there's a lot of people who want it for me."
Oregon junior Ashley McCrea was also among the 24 competitors in the women’s javelin field. She finished 17th in the preliminaries with a best throw of 153-2.
Senior Galen Rupp, who redshirted this track and field season to prepare for these Trials, thrilled the Hayward Field crowd by winning his heat of the men’s 5,000 in a time of 13:59.14.
"Coming in, the best thing was to work out the kinks and feel the atmosphere, said Rupp.” That's what it's all about. It was a great dress rehearsal today. The people here are so great. I can't thank them enough for their support.
"I have been looking forward to this for a while. Being from here, it's awesome to be able to run here. The last month was ten times more mental than it was physical."
Sunday, Rupp said he will not run in the final in order to prepare for his strongest event, the final of the 10,000 meters, which will be run Friday night.
Also on Monday, sophomore Ashton Eaton will complete the decathlon. The 2008 NCAA Champion stood fifth after day one with 5,167 points. Brian Clay was first (5,483), followed by Trey Hardee (5,466), Tom Pappas (5,358) and NCAA runner-up Jangy Addy (5,259).
Sophomore Nicole Blood is entered in Monday night’s semifinal of the women’s 5,000 meters. She will run in heat one along with Lauren Fleshmen of OTC Elite, Tasmin Fanning of Virginia Tech, who won 5,000 at the Oregon Twilight meet in May, and Trials’ 10,000 meter champion Shalane Flanagan. The top 16 times from the two heats advance to Friday’s final.
Other Oregon competitors to watch for when the Trials resume on Thursday are sophomores A.J. Acosta, Jordan McNamara and Wheating in the men’s 1,500 meter quarterfinals and Blood in the women’s 1,500 meter quarterfinals.
Notebook: Gay Runs Fastest Time Ever
On Sunday, Tyson Gay ran the fastest time ever run by a human being, covering 100 meters in 9.68 seconds. Never mind that wind was plus-4.1, which makes the mark ineligible for official records-keeping purposes. No one anywhere before on earth had covered 100 meters in 9.68 seconds.
"It means a lot to me, said Gay, who set the American ad Hayward Field record by running 9.77 during Saturday’s quarterfinals. “ I'm glad my body went that fast. It's a pretty good feeling and I hope I'm ready for the 200 meters.
"Getting a gold medal is my biggest motivation and I want to save the best for last. My expectations are huge going into the Olympics."
Record Watch
American records set during this week’s U.S. Olympic Team Trials
Men’s 100 Meters, 9.77, Tyson Gay
Olympic Trials records set during this week’s U.S. Olympic Team Trials
Men’s 100 Meters, 9.77, Tyson Gay
Historic Hayward Field Records set during this week’s U.S. Olympic Team Trials
Men’s 100 Meters, 9.77, Tyson Gay
Women’s Triple Jump, 47-2.25 (14.38), Shani Marks
Women’s 10,000 Meters, 31:34.81, Shalane Flanagan
Women’s 100 Meters, 10.78, Torri Edwards
