Drama, heartbreak in women's 400 hurdles
America's best women's 400m hurdlers laid it on the line Sunday, with many questions to be answered. Former #1 world-ranked Lashinda Demus was trying to make her second Olympic team one year to the month after giving birth to twin boys, 2007 Visa Champion Tiffany Ross-Williams was looking to repeat as national champion, and Olympic Trials record holder Sheena Tosta was looking to get back on top.
Coming into the final stretch, Ross-Williams led fellow South Carolina grad Demus over the final hurdle. Although the final meters off the last hurdle are normally a strong point for Demus, she was passed in the waning stages of the race by surprising Queen Harrison of Virginia Tech, who ended second in 54.60, and Tosta, who was third in 54.62. Demus ended fourth in 54.76.
Experience reigns in women's discus
There were no surprises in the women's discus. Three-time national champion Aretha Thurmond returned to the top of the podium after having a child in spring of last year, winning her fourth career national title and second Olympic Trials crown with a toss of 65.20m/213-11. She will be joined on the U.S. team by American record holder Suzy Powell-Roos (62.92m/206-5) and 2004 Olympian Stephanie Brown Trafton (62.65m/205-6).
Two-woman triple jump team
The women's triple jump featured great competition and a near-miss for one competitor. Two-time defending U.S. outdoor champion Shani Marks was the class of the field, winning with a Hayward Field record of 14.38m/47-2.25 (+1.4mps). Veteran Shakeema Welsch was second with 14.27m/46-10.0 (+3.5mps) and 2005 USA champion Erica McClain was third with 13.96m/45-9.75 (+0.4mps). Marks and McClain entered the Olympic Trials already with the Olympic "A" standard of 14.20m, necessary to compete in Beijing. Although Welsch exceeded 14.20m in Eugene, her mark was wind-aided so will not be accepted as an A standard. Marks and McClain will represent Team USA in at the Olympics.
Round and round
In Sunday's qualifying action, Mary Wineberg won heat 1 of the women's 400m quarterfinals in 51.46, Natasha Hastings won heat 2 (51.51), Sanya Richards won heat 3 (51.08), and Dee Dee Trotter took the fourth heat (51.97). Winning their races on the men's side of the card were LaShawn Merritt (45.30), Jeremy Wariner (46.04), Lionel Larry (45.89) and Quentin Iglehart-Summers (45.87).
For complete coverage of the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Track & Field, including results, athletes quotes, TV schedule and start lists, visit www.usatf.org
