Gay injured in 200m; Fountain, Davis just miss US team in jumps
Tyson Gay will not be seeking a sprint double in the 2008 Olympics, pulling up lame just a few meters into the quarterfinals of the 200m at the US Olympic Trials in Eugene, Oregon. Gay had won the 100m with a new American Record in the 1st session of the Trials. Hyleas Fountain and Walter Davis just missed earning a spot on the US team in jumping events as Fountain took 4th in the women’s long jump and Davis 4th in the men’s triple jump. Fountain will be a part of the US team in the Heptathlon. Bernard Williams, Susan King, Cassandra Lee, and Garland Porter all made the finals of their event but did not finish in the top 3 to earn a spot on the US team in Beijing, China later this summer.
200m M – Tyson Gay, Bernard Williams
Gay won both the 100m and 200m and the 2007 World Championships and was looking to repeat that feat at the 2008 Olympics. But just 9 strides into his quarterfinal race, Gay got a cramp in his left leg. It was later determined to be a mild muscle strain and Gay should be ready to run in the 100m at Beijing. Gay ran the 2nd fastest time ever in the 200m last year at the US Championships when he ran a 19.62. Gay cruised to a win in the 1st round in his heat in 20.43 – the 2nd fastest time in the opening round.
Williams did make the finals of the 200m as the 2004 Olympic Silver Medalist in the event was seeking a return trip to the Olympic Games. But the 30-year old Williams wasn’t able to keep pace with the younger runners in the final, placing 7th with a 20.63 and missing the 08 team. Williams opened the 200m with a win in his heat, running a 20.65 for the 3rd fastest time in the round on Friday. Williams followed Saturday with another win in his quarterfinal heat with a 20.61.In the semifinals, Williams earned the last spot in his heat, placing 4th in 20.6.
Long Jump W – Hyleas Fountain
Fountain was looking to make the team in a 2nd event as well after rolling to an easy win in the Heptathlon during the Trials 1st session. Fountain had the longest jump in the preliminaries at 21-10.25. In the finals she bested that mark by going 21-11.75 on her 4th jump but that came up an inch short of the 3rd place mark of 22-0.75. Fountain, who set an American Record in the Heptathlon hurdles in 12.65 had qualified to participate in the 100m hurdles but did not run. The winning time in the event ended up being a wind-aided 12.29 with 3rd place clocking a 12.62.
Triple Jump M – Walter Davis
Davis’ effort for a 3rd trip to the Olympic also just missed with his 4th place finish in the triple jump. Like Fountain, Davis had the longest jump in the prelims at 55-3. On his 3rd jump (out of 6) in the finals, Davis jumped 56-5.25 but that not quite good enough in a very close field. The 3rd place mark was 56-5.75 with 2nd place finishing at 56-6.5.
Shot Put W – Susan King, Cassandra Lee
Two athletes seeking their 1st Olympics also made the finals but did not make the team in King and Lee in the women’s shot put. Lee had the 5th longest throw in the prelims at 56-10.25 while King made the finals with a 55-10.25. In the finals King put herself in contention with a 58-10 effort on her 2nd attempt but couldn’t improve and finished 6th. Lee took 9th at 54-5. The 3rd place distance was 59-5.5.
Hammer Throw M – Garland Porter
Porter was throwing in his 1st Trials, taking the final spot in the 12-man finals with a 223-6 in the prelims. Porter improved to 224-10 in the finals, placing 9th.
Other starts
LaShauntea Moore will not be returning to the Olympics this year after making the US team in 2004 in the 200m. Moore made it to the semifinals of the 200m but missed out on a spot in the finals. Moore breezed through the qualifying round in 23.17 in the 200m Friday and finished 2nd in the 1st heat of the quarterfinals Saturday morning in 22.72 – the 5th best time. But in the semifinals Moore ran a 23.02, taking 5th in her heat just one spot from the finals.
Dexter Faulk was seeking his 1st Olympics in the 110m hurdles, making it to the semifinals. Faulk opened with a 13.53 Saturday morning in the 1st round and came back with a 13.57 Saturday evening to advance to the semifinal round Sunday. Faulk never got to run in the semifinals, however, false starting in the round and being disqualified.
Former Barton Cougars on 2008 US Olympic Team
Tyson Gay – 100m M
Hyleas Fountain – Heptathlon W
For full coverage of the US Olympic Trials, go to http://www.usatf.org
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