Oregonians shine at Olympic trials
A montage of images of Oregon athletes competiting in the Olympic trials. By ANNE M. PETERSON AP Sports Writer
EUGENE, Ore. (AP) -- Not only did Eugene solidify its reputation as Track Town USA, athletes with ties to Oregon made a splash at the U.S. Olympic track and field trials.
Hayward Field showcased America's top hopefuls in Beijing during the event, adding to the legacy built by the likes of Bill Bowerman and Steve Prefontaine. One of the moments that will forever be linked to Hayward's rich history came in the men's 800 meters, when three runners who claim Oregon as their home became Olympians.
PROFILES: Symmonds | Wheating | Smith "I believe Oregon was 1-2-3 because of this crowd," said Wheating, who runs for the University of Oregon.
Alan Webb, who ran in the men's 1,500 meters but missed out on a trip to Beijing, was awed by the performance. "It'd make a track geek out of anybody if you were watching that," he said. "It was exciting."
Rupp left the University of Oregon in December to train full time for the Olympics. He was a much-heralded prep runner at Central Catholic High School in Portland. "It's great. This has been a dream of mine since I started running. This is what every runner aspires to do — run in the Olympics," Rupp said. Rupp, who still has a year of eligibility at Oregon, finished second in the 10,000 meters in the U.S. outdoor championships last year. He was also the 10K NCAA runner-up last year. He also said that he was helped by the fans at Hayward Field. "It really is a home field advantage," he said. "They really do give you a lift. It's something special."
Adam Goucher did not make the team when he finished seventh in the 10,000 meters. | PROFILE: Adam & Kara Goucher "The crowd here is so amazing, and I had so much fun. I don't want to race anywhere but here from now on," Kara Goucher said. "This is my home track now." Other athletes who made the U.S Olympic team with ties to Oregon include Tom Pappas in the decathlon, Nicole Teter in the 800 meters and Erica Bartolina, a surprise in the pole vault. Bartolina, who grew up on a small farm near the town of Philomath, Ore., was a local favorite at Hayward Field. "I figured I would either really screw it up or I would make it. I just kept fighting," said Bartolina, the first female pole vaulter at Texas A&M, where she was the two-time Big 12 conference champion. "I PR'd twice. The first one I got the "A'' standard, the second one, I made the team." Pappas has won five U.S. championships and a world tile. However, an Olympic medal has eluded him.
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. |
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October 6, 2008
- Coos Bay / North Bend, Oregon
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Symmonds went to Willamette University in Salem and competes with the 
Kara Goucher, who moved to Oregon with her husband Adam to train with Nike's Oregon Project under Alberto Salazar, made the U.S. team by winning the 
