Arkansas Excels On Gloomy Day Seven At Trials
MTR Olympic Profiles | WTR Olympic Profiles
EUGENE, Ore. – Day seven of the 2016 United States Olympic Trials were highlighted by an outstanding Arkansas effort in the men’s 200-meter dash, as four current and former Razorbacks advanced to the semifinals.
Despite cool and wet weather conditions, three other former Razorbacks advanced through to the semifinals of the men’s and women’s 1,500, bringing their next-round qualifier total to seven for the day.
In the sprints Tyson Gay, Jarrion Lawson and Wallace Spearmon all finished among the top three in their respective heats of the 200 to earn automatic bids to the next round while Arkansas sophomore Kenzo Cotton earned his spot with his time of 20.46. The quartet will return to the track tomorrow evening at 7:37 p.m. CT for the next round of the competition. The top two in each of the three semifinal heats on Friday plus the next two fastest times will move on to the 200 finals on Saturday.
Arkansas’ middle distance crew Stephanie Brown, Duncan Phillips and Dorian Ulrey were all successful in the first round of the 1,500 with Brown and Ulrey racing to automatic spots in the event semifinal. Phillips posted the 17th-best time of the day in one of the fastest sections, crossing the finish line 3:45.05 to secure his place with his performance.
The lone final-event competitor, Jessica Kamilos capped her Olympic Trials debut as the 12th-best performer in the 3,000 steeplechase in 9 minutes, 45.42 seconds. A native of Neosho, Missouri Kamilos raced alongside a tight lead pack through six laps. Carried out to a challenging pace the 2016 NCAA steeplechase national runner-up never yielded, staying focused to close out her trials debut as one of the strongest American women this season in the steeplechase.
In the 100 hurdles Alex Gochenour raced to a fifth-place finish in heat four in 13.38. A two-event Olympic trial entry Gochenour will open up competition in the heptathlon on Saturday, July 9.
Wallace Spearmon On Coming Back From Injury
“It just feels good to finish the race healthy and my thanks to God on that one. I didn’t know what was going to happen and I’m just happy I finished.”
Stephanie Brown On Earning Automatic Qualifier In 1,500
“I figured if we just stayed just stayed on our feet we’d make it through after seeing how slow the second heat was. For some reason I still wanted the auto-qualifier that way if any protests came there’d be no question so I just made sure I was top six and stayed comfortable and in a positive mindset.”
Duncan Phillips On Expectations Of 1,500 Semifinals
“I’m thinking it’s going to be a good race. There may only be four or five people that have the Olympic Standard but that doesn’t mean that other people don’t have a shot. I think the field is going to know that. You just got to be ready for that hot pace at the gun I think.”
Jessica Kamilos On Her Olympic Trials Debut
“It was very fun, exciting and nerve-wrecking but it was good. Obviously I wanted to do a little better but I can’t complain about the season I’ve had. It was exciting to be here and be in the finals and everything so it was awesome.”
Thursday, July 7 Olympic Trials Results
200 meter prelims
Tyson Gay (10) – 20.36Q
Wallace Spearmon (11) – 20.39Q
Kenzo Cotton (13) – 20.46Q
Jarrion Lawson (18) – 20.54Q
W 1,500 meter prelims
Stephanie Brown (11) – 4:17.98Q
M 1,500 meter prelims
Duncan Phillips (17) – 3:45.05Q
Dorian Ulrey (25) – 3:50.80Q
100 hurdles prelims
Alex Gochenour (26) – 13.38
M 400 hurdle prelims
Neil Braddy (12) – 50.86Q
W Steeplechase finals
Jessica Kamilos (12) – 9:45.42
Friday, July 8 Olympic Trials Schedule
5:00 p.m. – W Pole Vault (qualifying) | Sandi Morris, April Steiner-Bennett, Lexi Weeks
6:12 p.m. – M 1,500 (semifinals) | Duncan Phillips, Dorian Ulrey
6:47 p.m. – M 400 hurdles (semifinals) | Neil Braddy
7:03 p.m. – W 1,500 (semifinals) | Stephanie Brown
7:23 p.m. – M Steeplechase (finals) | Stanley Kebenei
7:37 p.m. – M 200 (semifinals) | Kenzo Cotton, Tyson Gay, Jarrion Lawson, Wallace Spearmon
^ – denotes Jamaican Trials
* – requires qualification
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