Another record fell at the 2008 Olympic Trials, this time in the women’s pole vault. Jennifer Stuczynski cleared a height of 16 feet, 1.75 inches to better the American record she set back in May of this year. However, she felt better about finishing her first jump.
“I think I was more happy to make the opening height than the record jump. We had some height progressions in between and that jump I just went with it. I just tried to let my technique carry me through and it worked out,” she said.
The 2008 World Indoor silver medalist beat runner-up April Steiner Bennett by a foot, and she kept on clearing heights until she reached the world record height of 16-5.25 set by Yelena Isinbayeva of Russia three years ago. There, she failed to clear the bar, but Stuczynski left Hayward Field with the American record and a great chance of being the gold medalist in Beijing.
Bennett will not make the team after failing to achieve the Olympic ‘A’ qualifying standard, so third-place finisher Erica Bartolina will join Stuczynski on the team. Bartolina, who beat her personal record twice during the event, said she wasn’t nervous during the Trials.
“This is the meet I was the least nervous for. I figured I would either really screw it up or I would make it. I just kept fighting. I PR’d twice. The first one I got the ‘A’ standard, the second one, I made the team,” she said.
Forty-four-year-old Joanne Dow beat out American record holder Teresa Vaill in the women’s 20 kilometer race walk Sunday by a minute and a half to win the U.S. championship and spot on the Olympic team. Dow, a three-time U.S. Outdoor champion in the event, walked the 20 kilometers in 1:35:11, two minutes slower than Vaill’s American record, set in 2005.
Dow was overjoyed that her career didn’t end at the Trials. This was her fourth try at the Olympic team, and she finally broke through. She battled through a torn hamstring last year just to make it to Eugene, and with how old she is, Dow looks to end her career at the Olympics.
“One more race – I’m so glad it’s not over. I was not ready to have it be over,” she said. “I’m 44 – I think it’s time (to retire from competition). I’ve had 14 great years. I’m ready to have my final race be at the Olympics. I’m going to really try to enjoy and savor the Olympic experience.”