Gray skies, light rain and the men’s discus throw prelims opened up day five of competition. After the first flight, Russ Winger pulled ahead of the competition with a throw of 62.61 meters — 5.4 meters further than his next-best attempt. However, Nike-sponsored Lance Brooks started his attempts with a 64.80-meter throw as the third athlete in the second flight. It was that effort that won him the gold@@what@@ medal spot, with Winger in second place and Jarrod Rome in third.@@names checked@@
In the women’s 3,000-meter steeplechase prelims, Emma Coburn, Shalaya Kipp and Mason Cathey took top spots in the first heat. The second heat was much less clear cut, having three different leaders throughout the race. Ultimately, Bridget Franek, Sara Hall and Ashley Higginson placed in the top three. Six more competitors will join that trio from the finals on June 29.@@names checked@@
In the men’s 3,000-meter steeplechase qualifying round, Evan Jager, Donald Cabral and Craig Foye took top spots in the first heat. Daniel Huling, Benjamin Bruce and Kyle Alcorn bested the rest of their heat and will continue with two more runners into the finals.
Pole vaulters appeared to be having some trouble, with only seven clearing 5.30 meters in the first round of prelims. Ultimately, only five athletes passed the next height of 5.40 meters, with 11 men making the final total.
In the javelin,University of Oregon star Sam Crouser came back trying to earn a medal. His first throw landed outside the fence separating events, but luckily no one was hurt. While Texas A&M’s Sam Humphrey’s lead the group with a throw of 81.86 meters — a lifetime best — Crouser came back with a 74.70-meter throw on his second attempt, putting him in sixth. In an incredible turn of events, he threw a 80.80 meters on his seventh throw, placing him in second. However, along with the rest of the podium he was unable to meet the Olympic “A” standard and thus will not be going to London based off that distance.
The men’s high jumpers also appeared to struggle, as only three jumpers met the Olympic standard. While Nick Ross, Erik Kynard and Jamie Nieto@@checked@@ place third, second and first, respectively. Ross did not make the Olympic “A” standard and thus will not move on. Instead, 2011 USA Outdoor Champion Jesse Williams will go in his place as he previously hit the standard.
In the women’s long jump, Amanda Smock, Sheena Gordon and Andrea Geubelle@@checked@@ took first, second and third, respectively. University of Oregon’s Lauryn Newson took seventh. Due to each missing the Olympic-A standard, the women going to the Olympics will be also be determined by previous scores.
In the women’s 5K, Nike/Oregon Track Club Elite’s Julia Lucas, Lisa Uhl and Lauren Fleshman@@checked@@ will be joining nine other women for the finals on June 28.
The men’s 5,000 prelim was an impossibly close race in the first heat and resulted in UO’s Trevor Dunbar taking third just behind Andrew Bumbalough and men’s 10,000-meter champion Galen Rupp. In the second heat, Lopez Lomong, Bernard Lagat and Benjamin True took first, second and third, respectively. Sixteen athletes in total are moving on to the final on June 28.