Several Eugene athletes found mixed results at the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials in Sacramento, Calif., last week.
While some Olympic bids came as expected, some did not, and there were even a few surprises.
American record holder Lance Deal qualified for his fourth Olympic games with a win in the hammer throw. Deal, who will retire after this year, was bothered by leg cramps during his last attempts but still managed to throw 258 feet, nine inches. The mark was just shy of Deal’s goal of breaking the meet record of 262-10, held by third place finisher Jud Logan. Deal will shoot for his second straight Olympic medal in September in Sydney, Australia. In 1996, Deal finished second to Hungary’s Balasz Kiss.
Former Duck Nick Rogers provided the surprise of the day on Friday. Rogers picked off American record holder Bob Kennedy and contender Marc Davis in the 5,000 meters to place third. Rogers’ time of 13 minutes, 29.4 seconds was only two seconds off Adam Goucher’s winning time of 13:27. Although Rogers shattered his previous best in the 3.14 mile event by 14 seconds, his time is still 0.4 seconds off of the Olympic “A” standard.
Things did not fare as well for a couple of current Ducks. Juniors Jason Boness and Nikki Reed both no-heighted in their events — the high jump and pole vault, respectively. Boness, hampered by a knee injury that has bothered him all season, missed all three of his opening attempts at 7-2 1/2.
“It was cool to be down there, but it was disappointing,” Boness said. “It was definitely a step up from what I’m used to and it only makes me want to come back harder next year.”
Boness said that he will have his third knee surgery within the next month to get healthy for a year in which his “whole focus is to win the national championship.”
“I just wish I was healthy because I really believe that making the Olympic team was attainable,” he said. “Once I’m healthy, I’ll be able to rock and roll next year.”
Reed, competing at nearly the same time as Boness, also missed three attempts at the opening height. Reed’s personal best of 13-5 1/4 was just three inches higher than the opening height.
Senior Steve Fein was forced to scratch in the 5,000 due to a calf injury. The race was scheduled to be Fein’s last in an Oregon uniform. Fein’s senior year was plagued by injury. After earning All-American honors in each of the three seasons since transferring from Wisconsin, Fein was forced to sit out much of the track season with a sinus infection and knee and calf problems.
The future looks quite bright for up-coming Duck Katy Polansky. The recent high school graduate set a national prep record in the javelin with her toss of 174-2, good enough for sixth place. Polansky, who will bypass Oregon track to walk on and play basketball for Jody Runge’s Ducks next year, was just inches out of fifth place and 12 feet out of an Olympic bid. The 18-year-old threw in the mid-160 foot range in her first three throws before unleashing her personal best.
Also competing in the javelin was current Duck Karis Howell. The junior and All-American finished 13th in her qualifying flight with a throw of 144-7.
Although the event will not be contested at the Olympics, Lisa (Karnopp) Nye competed in the women’s 3,000 meter steeplechase. The former Duck placed second in the inaugural race in 10:00.6. The 3,000 steeplechase will be added to the women’s event sheet at the World Championships next year.
Some disappointment came to three former Duck women in the distances. Annette Peters barely missed an Olympic bid in the 10,000 meters, finishing fifth in 32:09. The former American record holder missed third place by less than eleven seconds. Peters also ran in the 5,000 meters, finishing 10th in 15:37. Melody Fairchild finished 19th in the 10,000 in 34:12. Milena Glusac finished 12th in her qualifying heat of the 5,000 in 16:01.
The Olympic games get kicked off with the Opening Ceremonies on September 15 in Sydney, Australia.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Associate Editor Jeff Smith contributed to this report.