USA Track & Field Olympic Trials: Thursday’s Qualifiers

Emma Coburn USA Track & Field Olympic Trials

Emma Coburn wrapped up a second consecutive trip to the Summer Olympics in the 3,000 meter steeplechase(Getty)

After a day in which just two events were held, Thursday was a busy one at the USA Track & Field Olympic Trials in Eugene, Oregon. Three events, the women’s shot put, women’s triple jump and women’s 3,000 meter steeplechase, produced members of the team that will represent the United States in Rio de Janeiro next month.

Among the winners was Emma Coburn, who won the national title in the 3,000 meter steeplechase for the fifth time in her career and will make a second consecutive Summer Olympics as a result. Below are the results for all three of those events, as well as which women will be headed to Rio to represent the United States.

NOTE: Results of all the events at the Olympic Trials can be found here.


Women’s Shot Put: Carter Leads Three Headed to Rio

Michelle Carter Diamond League Doha

Michelle Carter now holds the U.S. Olympic Trials record in the shot put (KARIM JAAFAR/AFP/Getty Images)

After winning a national title in the women’s shot put last month, Ole Miss’ Raven Saunders set her sights on a spot on the United States Olympic Team. Thursday night Saunders achieved that goal, as she finished second in the competition with a throw of 19.24 meters. The winner of the women’s shot put was Michelle Carter, who after finishing seventh in the preliminary round posted a meet-best throw of 19.59 meters on her final attempt of the night.

Carter’s throw also established a new record for the United States Olympic Trials, surpassing the mark of 19.33 meters set by Ramona Pagel back in 1988. Joining Carter and Saunders on the Olympic team will be Felisha Johnson, whose throw of 19.23 meters in the fourth round was good enough to sew up a trip to Rio. Tia Brooks, one of the top performers in the preliminary round, fell short of an Olympic spot by finishing fourth with a throw of 18.94 meters.

1. Michelle Carter 19.59 meters
2. Raven Saunders 19.24m
3. Felisha Johnson 19.23m
4. Tia Brooks 18.94m
5. Jill Camarena-Williams 18.81m
6. Brittany Smith 18.58m
7. Chase Ealey 18.46m
8. Jeneva Stevens 18.25m
9. Christina Hillman 17.17m
10. Kearsten Peoples 16.17m
NM Jessica Woodard
NM Dani Bunch

Going to Rio: Michelle Carter, Raven Saunders, Felisha Johnson


Women’s Triple Jump: Orji Wins By Comfortable Margin

Keturah Orji IAAF World Indoor Championships

Keturah Orji is one of three American women headed to Rio de Janeiro (DON EMMERT/AFP/Getty Images)

Among the 12 women who qualified for the finals of the women’s triple jump Monday, two managed to reach the Olympic qualifying standard in Thursday’s final round. One of those two was Georgia’s Keturah Orji, who led the way in qualifying and won the final with a jump of 14.32 meters on her fifth jump of the night. Orji was the most consistent jumper in the final, as five of her six attempts surpassed the Olympic standard.

Also doing enough to earn a trip to Rio was Christina Epps, who didn’t reach the Olympic standard until her penultimate jump of the night. Epps’ jump of 14.17 meters was just past the qualifying standard of 14.15 meters, just over a year after she won the triple jump in last year’s USATF Outdoor National Championships. The third and final Olympic qualifier was Andrea Geubelle, whose jump of 13.95 meters was enough to grab third place.

1. Keturah Orji 14.32 meters
2. Christina Epps 14.17m
3. Andrea Geubelle 13.95m
4. Imani Oliver 13.83m
5. Ciarra Brewer 13.80m
6. April Sinkler 13.34m
7. Toni Smith 13.27m
8. Lynnika Pitts 13.26m
9. Tori Franklin 13.13m
10. Amanda Smock 13.12m
11. Crystal Manning 13.11m
12. Bria Matthews 13.04m

Going to Rio: Keturah Orji, Christina Epps, Andrea Geubelle


Women’s 3,000 Meter Steeplechase: Coburn Dominates as Expected

Emma Coburn USA Track & Field Olympic Trials

Emma Coburn won her fifth national title in the 3,000 meter steeplechase and is headed to Rio (Getty)

After taking care of business in her qualifying heat for the 3,000 meter steeplechase Monday, Emma Coburn entered Thursday’s final as the clear favorite to win the event and earn a second consecutive Olympic berth. Coburn did just that, winning her fifth national title with a time of 9:17.48. Coburn outpaced second-place finisher Courtney Frerichs by more than three seconds, with Frerichs posting a time of 9:20.92.

Frerichs’ first-ever trip to the Olympics comes on the heels of her win at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Championships in June while representing the University of New Mexico. The third and final qualifier was Colleen Quigley, who finished the race with a time of 9:21.29. The top three pulled away from the field by a significant margin, with the fourth-place finisher ending the race more than seven seconds behind Quigley.

1. Emma Coburn 9:17.48
2. Courtney Frerichs 9:20.92
3. Colleen Quigley 9:21.29
4. Shalaya Kipp 9:28.72
5. Stephanie Garcia 9:28.99
6. Bridget Franek 9:33.51
7. Megan Rolland 9:35.31
8. Mel Lawrence 9:36.35
9. Ashley Higginson 9:38.55
10. Rena Williams-Chesser 9:40.49
11. Katie Landwehr 9:41.22
12. Jessica Kamilos 9:45.42
13. Nicole Bush 9:58.04
14. Leah O’Connor 9:59.03

Going to Rio: Emma Coburn, Courtney Frerichs, Colleen Quigley