Former Oregon Duck English Gardner cries after winning the 100-meter dash in a time of 10.74. Photo by Dillon Vibes
We saw a spectacular day of action on Sunday, filled with world-leading times, lifetime bests and more athletes securing their spot on the U.S. Olympic team. Kylee O’Connor chronicled the day’s highlights for Run Blog Run, and you can read pieces about individual athletes below:
Trayvon Bromell qualified for his first Olympics alongside Justin Gatlin and Marvin Bracy in the 100 meters. Bromell ran a PR 9.84 in the final, finishing second behind Gatlin, who ran a world-lead 9.80. Romaine Soh covered the event for the Tampa Bay Times.
In what has been called the fastest 100-meter final ever, Tori Bowie qualified for the Olympic Games alongside English Gardner and Tianna Bartoletta. All three qualifiers ran a wind-legal 10.8 or better for the first time ever, and Emma Decker covered it for the Clarion-Ledger of Jackson, Mississippi.
NFL star and 2012 Olympian Marquise Goodwin was unable to make the Olympic team, but that doesn’t mean he failed. Writing for the Syracuse Media Group, Zac Neel talked to Goodwin about his faith and determination through tough defeats, and how he plans to carry this drive into the football season.
With all eyes on him in another Olympic year, former Oregon Duck Ashton Eaton delivered again. The world-record holder in the decathlon wasn’t perfect, but he was good enough to win the gold medal and qualify for his second Olympics. Keeler McJunkin has the story.
LaShawn Merritt dominated the 400 meters, breaking the 44-second barrier and saying that he thinks he should be able to run 43 seconds every time he steps on the track. Hannah Bonnie covered the race for DyeStat.
Isaac Gibson wrote about high-jumper Elizabeth Patterson for the Santa Cruz Sentinel. Patterson, who is from Santa Cruz, finished in sixth place and failed to make the Olympic team, although she held the Olympic standard.
