North Bend alum fulfills Olympic Trials dream

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Story Published: Jul 24, 2008 at 5:33 PM PDT

By Azenith Smith

NORTH BEND - The North Bend High School track is where it all began for University of Oregon student Ashley McCrea, who just competed in the Olympic Trials in Javelin.

"It's just an amazing experience," says Ashley. "When everyone is clapping and cheering you on. It's like no experience you've ever felt."

It's an opportunity she wouldn't have gotten hadn't a friend asked her to practice the javelin with her sophomore year.

Ashley had her eyes on softball, but even then, there were signs of her potential.

"Once in awhile, she threw out of center field, which was fun to watch," says Ashley's mom Janet. "They didn't know she had such an arm."

Ashley decided to pursue track and field full time and was a natural. Two months after picking up the stick, she placed first in District and fourth in State.

Her ability was no surprise, considering how she came from an athletic family.

"I think all those years watching her sisters, she thought that when it's my time, I'm going to do something big and she did," says Janet.

Two days before the trials, Ashley was told she would be competing with the country's 24 best.

"It was icing on the cake after I was told I was going, so no matter how I did, I thought I wouldn't get this opportunity very often," says Ashley.

It's an experience that her mom couldn't believe.

"When they started playing the Olympic music, we saw her picture on the big screen," says Janet. "It was like 'Oh my God' I thought I was going to cry."

Ashley hadn't done as well as she hoped, placing 17th, with a throw of about 150 feet.

Her personal best is 166 feet, and the winner threw 201 feet. But for Ashley, it isn't where it landed that mattered.

"The mark wasn't everything," says Ashley. "It was the experience. I loved it."

Now finishing up her senior year, she doesn't think she'll try again in four years. She's just happy with all that she's accomplished as she remembers her roots.

"As much as I want to make my family proud," says Ashley. "North Bend, Coos Bay are my family. I just hope I made them proud and I've done them right."

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