Eaton breaks World Record; Jeter, Harper win at U.S. Olympic trials
Eugene, Ore. – Ashton Eaton brought a record capacity crowd to full
roar Saturday at Hayward Field as the Oregon graduate set a world
record in the decathlon, scoring 9,039 points to break the previous
record of 9,026 set in 2001 by the Czech RepublicÛªs Roman Sebrle. The
official attendance was 21,795. It was but one highlight of a dramatic
and newsmaking day at the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Track &
Field.
EatonÛªs record was the first world record set at the U.S. Olympic
Trials since Michael JohnsonÛªs 19.66 in the 200m at Atlanta in 1996. It
was also the fifth time an American set a decathlon world record at the
Trials, a feat most recently achieved in 1976 by Bruce Jenner. Former
record holders Jenner and Dan OÛªBrien were on hand to great Eaton at
the finish line.
Needing to run better than 4:16.23 in the 1500m to crack the WR, Eaton
followed Curtis Beach and Joe Detmer through the first three-and-a-half
laps before crossing the line in 4:14.48 as Beach waved him through the
line.
2011 World champion Trey Hardee claimed the second spot on the podium
with a score of 8,383 points and will join Eaton in London. Gray Horn
was third at 7,954.
Reigning Olympic champion Bryan Clay faltered in the 110m hurdles where
he hit the ninth hurdle and did not clear the tenth hurdle. His time of
16.81 garnered him only 644 points. Things did not get better in the
next event when Clay fouled three times in the discus and did not score
a mark. Though he was out of contention to make the decathlon podium,
Clay continued on to finish all ten events, finishing 12th with 7109
points.
World 100m champion Carmelita Jeter dashed to her third U.S. title in
the short sprint, all won at Hayward Field, with a swift 10.92. 2005
World long jump gold medalist Tianna Madison was second in 10.96. The
eventÛªs drama came in the tussle for the third spot where three-time
World 200m champion Allyson Felix and former Texas A&M star Jeneba
Tarmoh finished in a dead heat at 11.07 (11.068). See photo finish here.
Reigning Olympic champion Dawn Harper out-sprinted Kellie Wells and
Lolo Jones to win the womenÛªs 100m hurdles in 12.73, with 2011 U.S.
champion Wells second in 12.77 and two-time World Indoor 60m hurdle
winner Jones surging to place third in 12.86. It was the second
national title in the 100m hurdle for Harper, who also won in Eugene in
2009, and Jones makes her second straight Olympic team after winning
the Û÷08 Trials and finishing seventh in Beijing.
Qualifying Roundup
Collegians Timothy Glover of Illinois State and Sam Humphreys of Texas
A&M recorded the two farthest throws in the preliminaries of the
menÛªs javelin throw. Glover threw a best mark of 80.27m/263-4, while
Humphreys threw 78.12m/256-3. Eugene local Cyrus Hostetler had an
interesting throw on his first attempt when his javelin split in half
in mid air. Hostetler was given a second attempt on that throw and
qualified to the next round with a 74.74m/245-2.
In the menÛªs shot put prelims, Reese Hoffa exceeded the automatic
qualifying mark on his second attempt at 21.22m/69-7.5, the furthest
mark of the day. Christian Cantwell and Ryan Whiting easily moved on to
the finals with the two next best throws. Neither Dan Taylor nor
two-time Olympic silver medalist Adam Nelson advanced to the finals.
World Indoor 60m champion Justin Gatlin and defending Olympic Trials
champion Tyson Gay were the two swiftest men in the first round of the
100. Gatlin blasted to an impressive 9.90 in the fifth section to lead
all qualifiers, while Gay looked smooth and easy in winning the fourth
heat at 10.00. The only noteworthy casualty was last yearÛªs NCAA
runner-up Mookie Salaam.
Amanda Smock was the top qualifier in the womenÛªs triple jump, as the
defending national champion spanned 13.80m/45-3.5 in the second round.
OregonÛªs Lauryn Newson used a huge PR leap of 13.52/44-4.25 to advance,
but American record holder Tiombe Hurd finished just outside the top 12
and failed to advance.
Ten men cleared 2.18m/7-1.75 in the high jump qualifying, including
World champion Jesse Williams and NCAA winner Erik Kynard of Kansas
State. A total of 13 athletes moved on to the final, but not 2008 World
Indoor bronze medalist Andra Manson, who was 16th overall.
Running more like a sprinter than a middle distance ace, Alysia Montano
covered the first 400 of her 800 semi in 55.65 and held on to grab the
fastest qualifying time at 2:00.25. Alice Schmidt clocked 2:00.50 in
pursuit of Montano, with Molly Beckwith and Geena Gall taking the top
two spots in the other semifinal heat.
Khadevis Robinson kicked past Duane Solomon and NCAA champ Charles Jock
to win the first semifinal of the menÛªs 800m in 1:45.83, with OregonÛªs
Elijah Greer sneaking past Jock for the third auto qualifying spot.
Tyler Mulder and defending Trials champion Nick Symmonds were easy
advancers out of semi two, won by Mulder in 1:46.14.
Reigning Olympic champion LaShawn Merritt and 2004 gold medalist Jeremy
Wariner were two of the eight qualifiers for the menÛªs 400m final,
where they will be joined by NCAA champion Tony McQuay of Florida and
four other collegians. Merritt won the second section in 44.78, the
fastest time overall, and McQuay captured semifinal one at 44.84.
Francena McCorory at 50.55 and golden-tressed Sanya Richards Ross at
50.81 led the way in the womenÛªs 400m semifinals. 2009 World 4×400 gold
medalist Debbie Dunn was the other athlete to dip under 51 seconds with
her 50.99 behind McCorory.
Full live results, athlete quotes and start lists for tomorrowÛªs competition can be found at www.usatf.org
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