American record: Erin Gilreath, 242-4
2007 U.S. Champion: Brittany Riley, 237-7
2004 Olympic Trials Champion: Erin Gilreath, 231-0
Top 5 Seed Times
1. Brittany Riley (237-10)
2. Amber Campbell (230-9)
3. Erin Gilreath (230-0)
4. Loree Smith (228-2)
5. Kristal Yush (227-3)
Current American record holder Erin Gilreath would appear poised to make her second Olympic team, but her record was set in 2005 and her Trials qualifying distance is from last year. Gilreath will face a lot of pressure from young upstart Brittany Riley, a senior-to-be at Southern Illinois University. Riley is a two-time runner-up at the NCAA championships, but she won the 2007 U.S. Outdoor Championship in convincing fashion – outthrowing second-place finisher (and fifth seed) Kristal Yush by nearly 14 feet.
Amber Campbell is a five-time NCAA All-American who finished third at the 2004 U.S. Olympic Track & Field Trials but failed to meet the qualifying standard. The Coastal Carolina graduate met the standard and then some at a 2007 meet in Provo, Utah, posting a personal best and winning the competition.
Loree Smith won the 2005 NCAA championship and currently trains in Eugene. Former Oregon standout Britney Henry and Team XO thrower Cari Soong will compete in the Trials.