American Record: Kim Kreiner, 210-7
2007 U.S. Champion: Dana Pounds, 195-8
2004 Olympic Trials Champion: Kim Kreiner, 182-7
Top 5 Seed Times
1.) Kim Kreiner, 210-7
2.) Kara Patterson, 202-0
3.) Dana Pounds, 196-7
4.) Rachel Yurkovich, 191-1
5.) Ruby Radocaj, 187-6
As things stand now, Kim Kreiner and Kara Patterson will represent the U.S. in Beijing. The only two who have met the Olympic ‘A’ standard of 198-6, all Kreiner and Patterson have to do to make the team is qualify for the Olympic Trials final. Anyone else who wants to make the trip to Beijing will have to set a personal best in Eugene.
Kreiner has finished in the top two at the U.S. Championships every year this decade, winning four times, including the 2004 Olympic Trials. She set her American record last year, but then saw her season cut short with an elbow injury.
Patterson, who went to high school in Vancouver, Wash., set a collegiate record with her throw of 202-0 at the Big Ten Championships. She struggled at the NCAA Championships, placing fifth.
Dana Pounds may be the most likely addition to the team, but will need to improve on her PR of 196-7 to make it. She did win the 2007 U.S. Championships, so she has the potential to step up at the right time.
Oregon’s Rachel Yurkovich, the 2008 NCAA champion, is also within striking distance. She set the Pac-10 record of 191-1 earlier this year at the Oregon Relays at Hayward Field and will have the crowd behind her on every throw.