June 22, 2012
LEXINGTON, Ky. – It was “Hammertime” in Beaverton, Ore., at the Nike World Headquarters on Thursday – but no, not like that.
Former University of Kentucky track and field student-athletes Andy Fryman and Kristin Smith got the U.S. Track & Field Olympic Trials started Thursday, competing in the men’s and women’s hammer throw, respectively. The day was declared “Hammertime” to help promote the event at the start of the trials.
Fryman, the 2006 Southeastern Conference outdoor shot put champion, finished sixth in the men’s hammer with a mark of 72.63m/238-3. Fryman, who competed in the trials for the Mjolnir Throwers Club, holds the second-best mark in Kentucky history in the hammer, throwing 66.04m/216-08 in 2008 at the NCAA Outdoor Championships in Des Moines, Iowa.
On the women’s side, Smith, competing for Throw1Deep Club, finished 12th with a mark of 65.58m/215-02. Smith, the Kentucky hammer throw record holder, was the only former SEC athlete competing in the women’s hammer throw at the U.S. Olympic Trials. Smith’s top mark while at Kentucky was 63.57m/208-07, which she threw in 2010 at the Jesse Owens Track Classic in Columbus, Ohio.
The U.S. Olympic Trials will go from Friday, June 22 to Sunday, July 1. A total of 12 hours of live track and field coverage will be a part of a record 67.5 hours of total Olympic Team Trials coverage by NBC in 2012. Covered in prime time between NBC and the NBC Sports Network, the 12 hours of live coverage will span the course of eight days.
Former Wildcats Mary Angell and Sharif Webb will compete Friday. Angell will throw in the qualifying round of the women’s discus, while Webb will race in the first round of the 800-meter.
Chase Madison and rising junior Andrew Evans, the SEC Outdoor Champion in the men’s discus, will compete Monday in the discus. Madison’s entry mark of 61.51m/201-09 was accepted on a provisional basis and his current declaration status is listed as pending. Evans is currently listed as a provisional in the event. The men’s discus will take place June 25 at 6:30 p.m. ET.
Ashley Muffet-Duncan, like Madison, is also listed as a provisional with a declaration status of pending. Muffet-Duncan is scheduled to compete in the women’s shot put at 8:40 p.m. ET on June 28.
The men’s and women’s discus, men’s 800m and women’s shot put will each take place in Eugene, Ore., at Hayward Field on the Oregon campus.
U.S. Track & Field Olympic Trials
Hayward Field – Eugene, Ore.
June 21 – July 1, 2012
“Hammertime,” June 21
Men’s Hammer Throw
6. Andy Fryman – 72.63m/238-03
Women’s Hammer Throw
12. Kristin Smith – 65.58m/215-02
Day One, June 22
Women’s Discus Throw (Qualifying) – 5:20 p.m. ET
Mary Angell
Men’s 800m (First Round) – 8:20 p.m. ET
Sharif Webb
Day Four, June 25
Men’s Discus Throw (Qualifying) – 6:30 p.m. ET
Andrew Evans
Chase Madison
Day Seven, June 28
Women’s Shot Put (Qualifying) – 8:40 p.m. ET
Ashley Muffet-Duncan
