Tar Heels To Be Well Represented At US Olympic Trials
June 23, 2008
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - North Carolina track and field will have 14 current and former Tar Heels competing in Eugene, Ore. this weekend at the US Olympic Trials in an attempt to earn a spot on the US Olympic team for the Beijing Olympics to be held August 8 through August 24. The Olympic Trials will be held at Hayward Field, home of the Olympic Trials in '72, '76 and '80. Shalane Flanagan and Alice Schmidt enter this weekend's meet with the top times in the 5000, 10000 and 800 as they will be joined by several current and former Tar Heels looking to punch their ticket for China in a few weeks. On the women's side, seven former Tar Heels will be in action along with the potential for four current Tar Heels. Entering the meet Shalane Flanagan owns the American record in not only the 5000 but also the 10000 and will be a focal point for the Tar Heels in Eugene. Flanagan set the American record in the 5000 in 2007 at the Mt. SAC Relays as she ran a blistering 14:44.80. She would make her first appearance in the 10000 a memorable one in early May as she broke the American record in 17 seconds with a time of 30:34.49. Blake Russell who has already earned a spot in the Olympic Games after qualifying for the marathon in April will look to add the 10000 to her resume as she will join Flanagan in the event.
Another favorite in Eugene will be Alice Schmidt who holds the top spot in the 800 with one of just five sub-2:00 times. Schmidt owns a personal-best of 1:58.75 in the event. Possibly joining Schmidt in the 800 will be current Tar Heel freshman Dominique Jackson. The Fairfield, Calif. product is a provisional qualifier after the 2:05.32 she posted at the ACC Outdoor Championships in mid-April.
Jackson's teammate, Brie Felnagle, qualified in the 800 but the rising senior will focus her attention on the 1500 where she holds the ninth-fastest time entering the Olympic Trials with a mark of 4:08.54. Joining Felnagle in the 1500 will be former Tar Heel Erin Donohue whose time of 4:05.55 is currently the third-fastest in the country after her third-place finish at the 2007 USA Outdoor Championships. A pair of former Olympians in Monique Hennagan and Tisha Waller will also be competing in Eugene as Hennagan is likely to appear in the 400 and Waller will be competing in the high jumper where she appeared during the 2004 games in Athens. Sheena Gordon will be in action in the high jump along with Waller and will also be showcased in the triple jump. Freshman All-America LaToya James coming off a fourth-place finish in the 400 hurdles at the NCAA Championships just a few weeks ago enters with the 14th-best time and will look to close out an impressive freshman campaign with a strong showing at the Olympic Trials. Another current Tar Heel may be making an appearance in Eugene as Addie Bracy, who redshirted during the outdoor season will look to compete in the 3000-steeplechase. A trio of Tar Heel men are likely to compete for spots at Olympic Trials next week led by 1996 Olympic Gold medalist Allen Johnson. The four-time All-America will be competing in the 110 hurdles and will be looking to reach the Olympic stage for the fourth time in his illustrious career. A pair of younger Tar Heels will be experiencing their first Olympic Trials as 2007 graduate Nick Owens will be competing in the hammer throw. Owens enters with the 10th-best mark in the country and will battle for a spot in the Olympic Games. Also possibly making his first appearance at the Olympic Trials will be sophomore Donte Nall in the high jump. Nall set a personal-best of 7-2 1/2 on three separate occasions during the outdoor season and is a provisional qualifier for the trials.
Olympic Trials Schedule of Events for Tar Heel Competitors Friday, June 27, 2008 5:40 Triple Jump women qualifying Sheena Gordon 6:30 400m Hurdles women quarterfinal LaToya James 8:00 800m women quarterfinal Alice Schmidt & Dominique Jackson 9:20 10,000m women final Shalane Flanagan & Blake Russell |
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