A great first day of track and field in Eugene. Only two finals, in the men’s 10,000 meters and men’s shot put, and they entertained the crowd!
Tracktown16, Hayward Field, July 1, 2016, photo by PhotoRun.net
By Zac Neel
For Run Blog Run
EUGENE, Oregon – Day one of the U.S. Olympic Trials at Hayward Field featured a number of triumphs to kick off the 10-day event, but several form charts ended up scrambled after multiple favorites to make the Olympic team either pulled out mid-race or were upset.
Here’s a quick look at the triumphs and tribulations of day one.
Rupp adds another event to August schedule:
In the last race of the day, American record-holder and 2012 silver medalist Galen Rupp won the 10,000 in 27 minutes, 55.04 seconds, qualifying for the Olympics in his second event this year, after winning the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials in February.
Rupp also plans to run in the 5,000 preliminaries on Monday, hoping to make the final and hit the Olympic standard in that event as well. If he qualifies, Rupp will be eligible to race in three events in Rio.
“I am keeping my options open,” said Rupp. “Doubling, whether it’s the 10K and marathon or 10K and 5K Â- that’s a lot. So running all three, I think, would be too much.”
A changing of the guard in the shot put ring:
In his first season as a professional, Texas graduate Ryan Crouser threw 72 feet, 6 ½ inches to win the shot put and qualify for his first Olympic Games. Joe Kovacs, who won the 2015 World Championships and has held the world lead in both 2015 and 2016, came in second with a throw of 72 feet, ¼ inch.
Ryan Crouser, Trials champion, photo by PhotoRun.net
“This is the hardest team to make, and everybody brought it today,” said Crouser. “This was the biggest competition of my life – I’m just happy to make the team.”
Richards-Ross says goodbye while Felix attempts to hold off the young-guns:
In the women’s 400 meters, much to the crowd’s dismay, 2012 Olympic champion Sanya Richards-Ross pulled up midway through the race, jogging through the finish line in what she has said will be her last Olympic trials. She plans to retire after this season. Favorites Phyllis Francis and Allyson Felix qualified for the semifinals with times of 50.81 and 51.96, respectively.
Berian stays on top, but Soloman and Brazier fall by the wayside:
Reigning world indoor champion Boris Berian qualified for the semifinals in the 800 with a time of 1:46.03, but many were shocked to see both Donavan Brazier and Duane Soloman fail to do the same. Both finished fourth in their heats.
Brazier, who set the U.S. junior record of 1:43.55 at NCAAs this year, crossed in 1:48.13, and Solomon, a 2012 Olympian, finished in 1:48.71.
True to form, Montano leads way to semifinals:
Former Olympian Alysia Montano and current Oregon Duck Raevyn Rogers both qualified for the 800 semifinals with times of 2:00.56 and 2:01.67, respectively. However, Laura Roesler, the 2014 Bowerman Award Winner, failed to qualify with a time of 2:03.55.
Rising star shows no sign of fading:
Vashti Cunningham, who burst onto the scene with a world indoor title in the high jump earlier this year, qualified for the finals with a clearance of 6 feet, ¼ inch.
Chaunté Lowe also cleared 6 feet, ¼ inch and is hoping to qualify for her fourth Olympics. She’s still searching for her first medal.
