U.S. Olympic Trials: What Happened on Day 1

Sanya Richards-Ross waves to the Hayward crowd as she exits the track for the last time. Photo by Dillon Vibes.

Sanya Richards-Ross waves to the Hayward crowd as she exits the track for the last time. Photo by Dillon Vibes.

Our bureau of reporters and photographers was out in full force at the first day of U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials at Hayward Field. The competition was full of expected victories and unexpected defeats – check out our coverage:

Romaine Soh wrote about Galen Rupp’s victory in the 10,000 meters race, the last event of the day. Rupp, an Oregon alum who already qualified for the Olympics in the marathon this February, will now return to the track on Monday to compete in the 5,000, hoping to hit the Olympic standard in that race as well. If successful, he will have to decide which events to run in Rio this August.

Kylee O’Connor covered the men’s shot put, where first-year professional Ryan Crouser upset fan-favorite Joe Kovacs. Crouser, an Oregon native, comes from a family rich with track and field talent – his uncle, Brian, competed in the ’88 and ’92 Olympics as a thrower, and his cousins Sam and Haley will compete in the javelin later this week.

Isaac Gibson talked with Sanya Richards-Ross, a track and field icon who ran her last race on Friday. After dealing with a hamstring issue all season, Richards-Ross pulled out of the 400 with less than 200 meters left, jogging across the finish line for the final time at Hayward Field. Three months after announcing her retirement, Richards-Ross exited the track to a standing ovation from the Hayward faithful.

Keeler McJunkin wrote for the Tuscaloosa News, covering Alabama’s Quanesha Burks, who advanced to the finals in the women’s long jump. Burks, who is the 2016 NCAA long jump champion, was one of four athletes to automatically qualify for the final.

Zac Neel

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