Arkansas has solid first day at U.S. Olympic Team Trials
EUGENE – First round qualifying went very well for athletes associated with the University of Arkansas on Friday at Hayward Field as a dozen advanced to either semifinals or finals at the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Trials.
Ryan Crouser and Jordan West both advanced to the shot put final on Saturday while Lauren Gregory advanced to the 5,000m final.
Daniel Spejcher’s first day in the decathlon produced a score of 3,969 points and he is currently in 15th place through the first five events.
All eight entrants in the 400m qualified for the semifinals. Advancing in the men’s 400m were Chris Bailey, James Benson II, and TJ Tomlyanovich. Shamier Little led the women’s field with a 50.13 season best while Alexis Holmes, Kaylyn Brown, Rosey Effiong, and Paris Peoples join her in the next round.
Racing in heat 2 of 5, Bailey posted a time of 44.86 as runner-up and was third best overall. The fifth heat featured two Razorbacks in adjacent lanes as Tomlyanovich finished third in 45.76 while Benson placed fourth in 45.81. The men’s semifinal will be held on Sunday.
Following Little’s leading time were Georgia’s Aaliyah Butler (50.44) and Lynna Irby-Jackson (50.89). Holmes won her heat in 51.05 ahead of a 51.21 for Effiong. Brown placed third in another heat with a 51.09 while Peoples clocked 52.20 for fourth in the same heat with Little. The women’s semifinal is on Saturday.
Crouser hit a mark of 70-4.25 (21.44) in his outdoor debut that was third best in the qualifying round. An opening round mark of 65-4.75 (19.93) by Jordan West placed 10th overall and advanced to Saturday’s final.
Gregory finished ninth in the first heat of the 5,000m in 15:25.80 and earned a time qualifier to Monday evening’s 10-person final. Elle St. Pierre led the field with a 15:13.82 over a 15:15.42 from Karissa Schweizer from the same heat.
Jada Baylark posted a wind-assisted 11.12 (3.1w) to finish fifth in her 100m heat and auto qualified for the semifinal. Ariane Linton finished ninth in another heat with an 11.52.
Stephanie Brokaw placed ninth in her 800m heat with a 2:04.20 as the last time qualifier was 2:02.45.
Opening with the 100m, Spejcher ran 11.11 for 836 points which placed him 17th in the field. A mark of 22-10.5 (6.97) in the long jump placed 13th and moved Spejcher to 12th overall with a two-event total of 1,643.
Producing three fouls in the long jump were Aiden Ouimet, Denim Rogers, and guest Lindon Victor of Grenada.
A toss of 50-0.75 (15.26) in the shot put earned Spejcher fourth place in the event and picked up 805 points as he moved into 10 place overall with 2,449 points. A clearance of 6-2.25 (1.89) in the high jump picked up 731 points.
Closing out the first day with the 400m, Spejcher ran 50.00 for second in heat behind a 49.72 for Zach Ziemek. Spejcher added 815 points to his tally.
The first day leader in the decathlon is Heath Baldwin with 4,508 points with Ziemek second best at 4,477 and Kyle Garland third at 4,456.