Eugene, Oregon – I’m attending my first ever U.S. national track & field championships, which every four years also doubles as the trials for the Olympic team. I meant to make more posts, but between devouring the excitement in the stadium and partying with my buddies from Track & Field News, I haven’t had much time for blogging. Please pardon the lack of eloquence in this writing, I’m doing it on the fly.
Triumph and heartbreak for Austinites:
* Sanya Richards, after failing to make the U.S. world championships team last year in an otherwise sterling season, got redemption this year by winning the 400 meters. (The top three in each event go to Beijing, provided they also meet the Olympic performance standards.) The former Longhorn blew out the rest of the field in 49.89 seconds, almost a full second ahead of her nearest competitor.
* Former Longhorn Leonel Manzano qualified for the semifinals in the 1,500 meters; assuming he makes it to Sunday’s final, he stands a good shot at making the team, but the competition will be tough.
* Longhorn distance runner Jake Morse qualified for the final in the 3,000 meter steeplechase.
* Former Longhorn Andra Manson qualified for the high jump finals, and is one of the favorites to make the team.
* Two weeks after winning the NCAA championship, Longhorn Jacob Hernandez failed to make the finals in the 800 meters here. In that NCAA race, Hernandez edged Oregon’s Andrew Wheating by .01 of a second; this time, Wheating got his revenge by placing second and making the Beijing team, a feat that made the crowd here in Eugene explode with joy. I’ve never heard a track crowd yell that loud.
This article appears in July 4 • 2008.