U.S. Olympic Track Trials:
Day 6 Preview
Posted July 4th, 2008 at 9:52 AM by Jesse Squire
Section: News & Results, Track & Field, Olympics
TV Coverage: live on USA from 11 p.m. to 1 a.m. (EDT)
Finals on day six of the US Olympic Trials include the women’s high jump and 5,000 meters and the men’s hammer throw and 10,000 meters.
In the men’s hammer throw, the only name you need to know is A.G. Kruger. No other American has the Olympic “A” standard, which makes him the prohibitive favorite. Likely to be second is Kruger’s training partner Kibwe Johnson.
In the women’s high jump, the favorite is Chaunte Howard. The 2005 World Championships silver medalist took some time off to have a baby and has nearly returned to previous form. The best of the rest is Amy Acuff, who has won 10 national championships in her career. For third, Track & Field News picks Destinee Hooker but I’m going to have to disagree and take Cal Poly SLO’s Sharon Day, last year’s runner-up at nationals.
To preview the women’s 5,000 meters we must ask ourselves what we learned from the 10,000 meters. We learned that Shalane Flanagan is better than any other American runner (but we already knew that). We learned that Kara Goucher is better than anyone else (but we already knew that). We learned it’s not necessarily a good racing strategy to let someone without the “A” qualifier go because you don’t think she can make it. As unlikely as a new “A” qualifier of 15:09.00 in tonight’s race is, it’s still a possibility. The other two athletes who have it are Jen Rhines and Lauren Fleshman. Rhines raced in two Golden League events in Europe while Fleshman stayed home for events like the Reebok Grand Prix and Mt. SAC Relays. My pick is Rhines but I’m not confident about it.
The men’s 10,000 meters does not have the “A” standard issue because seven different men in the race have achieved it. Notables who have not are Adam Goucher, Dathan Ritzenhein, and Josh Rohatinsky. Abdi Abdirahman showed very good form at the Pre Classic last month. Meb Keflezighi, who did not make the team in the marathon and so has extra incentive, is in my mind the toughest and most talented of the rest. The boy wonder, Galen Rupp, will set the place on fire if he’s in contention for the team, and I’m confident he’ll get that third spot.
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Tags: Eugene, hayward field, Olympic Trials, oregon, Team USA, track & field trials, track and field, track trials, tracktrials08preview, u.s. olympic track & field trials
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