WINDSOR, Canada and EUGENE, Ore. ? After winning her semifinal heat Friday evening, University of Kentucky sprinter Jenna Martin placed third in the women?s 400 meter dash final with a time of 52.95 at the Canadian Olympic Trials held in Windsor, Ontario, Saturday.
Despite Martin?s third-place finish, the rising junior did not attain the Olympic standard to qualify for the 2008 Summer Games to be held in Beijing, China, this August. Martin already holds both the indoor and outdoor varsity and freshman records at Kentucky in the women?s 400 meter dash in her first two years as a Wildcat.
Meanwhile at the U.S. Olympic Trials in Eugene, Ore., rising sophomore Grant Lindsey competed in the men?s high jump finals. After leaping over the first height of 7-0.25 on his first attempt, Lindsey could not clear the next height of 7-2.25 to finish 12th overall.
On Sunday, two Wildcats will wrap up competition on the final day of the U.S. Olympic Trials in the men?s discus final. UK assistant coach for throws, Doug Reynolds and rising senior Rashaud Scott both advanced to the event final to be held at 5:50 p.m. ET. During qualifying, Reynolds threw a distance of 198-3 on his first toss to claim sixth overall while Scott, the reigning NCAA Champion, threw 197-2 to place 10th among the top 12 finalists.
The top three finishers in each of event at the Olympic Trials event must have made the Olympic ?A? standard over the past 18 months to automatically represent their country in the Games. If the athlete has not achieved that mark at or prior to competition in the trials, the next best finisher in each event that has cleared the standard could be chosen for competition at the Games despite not finishing in the top three positions of their respective event.
One Wildcat that has attained an Olympic standard is sprinter Jose Acevedo who will represent Venezuela at the games after making the cut at the Mideast Regional Championships in May. Acevedo won his heat in the 200 meter dash quarterfinals to advance to the semifinal round at the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Championships held in Cali, Colombia this weekend.
Also at the CACs, UK hurdler Mikel Thomas of Trinidad and Tobago qualified for the men?s 110 m final with a time of 13.72 in his semifinal heat Saturday. Thomas must still attain an Olympic standard to be considered for the contingent headed to China from the island nation.
There are not any dedicated broadcast times for any of the U.S. Olympic Trials? field events on NBC. Although, there may be highlights of field event competition interspersed with running event coverage from Hayward Field in Eugene throughout the weekend. Live U.S. Olympic results can be found at USATF.org.
A full recap of the U.S. Olympic Trials men?s discus final can be found on UKathletics.com after competition completes.
Kentucky Olympic Trials Participation Schedule July 6, 2008
Team USA Men?s Discus Final ? Sunday 5:20 p.m. ET
Doug Reynolds
Rashaud Scott
