Olympic Trials - Day 2

A quick note on my "highs" and "lows" of the day. They are not meant to be disrespectful, but rather, notes of exciting, unexpected and curious results that occur each day. "High" doesn't necessarily mean that I found it the best , nor does "low" denote worst, performance/s of the day, but instead grouping of things I feel as though pointing out, sometimes for my own personal reasons, other times because I think they are just results that need to be highlighted that may have been missed by the "naked" eye. So here goes with Day #2!

Recap:
Day 2 was mainly quarter/semi finals with Finals in the hotly contested Women's Heptathlon, Men's Shot Put and Women's 100m. In the end I would say the favorites made it on the the next round in nearly every event, with no super surprises. The one main surprise probably came from the Women's 100m where Allyson Felix placed 5th, having gone in to the event as a odds on favorite to make the team, although she has to be a shoe-in for the 4X100 pool. Most important to mention was the absolutely insane men's 100 Quarterfinals, which had 7 men run 10.00 or faster and the following records set: American/OT Record (Tyson Gay), Collegiate Record (Travis Padgett) and World/American U-20 Record (Jeffrey Demps)...just un-real considering there are still 2 rounds to go!

Today's Olympians:
Men's Shot Put - Reese Hoffa, Christian Cantwell and Adam Nelson
Women's 100m - Muna Lee, Torri Edwards and Lauryn Williams
Women's Heptathlon - Hyleas Fountain, Jacquelyn Johnson, and Diana Pickler

Highs:
3. Christian Cantwell - Men's Shot Put - Final - 2nd Place - 71'-2.75"
Cantwell didn't throw his best but really shook off the demons of the past to make the Olympic team. In the previous 2 Olympic Trials Cantwell, a former World Champion, had fouled 10 of 12 throws. Cantwell not only managed 4 legal throws, but let his last throw stretch him out over 71' which really has to have given him some confidence. Up next Beijing where he, Hoffa and Nelson have a real "shot" at sweeping the medal stand...sorry that was a really terrible pun.

2. Diana Pickler - Women's Heptathlon - 800m - 2:16.59
Pickler made her first Olympic team running a really gutsy race in the 800m, which is the final event. She needed be within Gi Gi Johnson 1.5 seconds in order to score enough points to take the final qualifying spot, and did it. She ran an 800m PR in the process and made her first Olympic team by a mere 10 points, which can be equated to about .1 seconds in the 200m or 2-3in in the long jump. Over the course of 7 events it really shows that every little extra effort can mean the difference between a trip to Beijing or sitting at home.

1. Tyson Gay - Men's 100m - Quarterfinals Heat #1 - 1st Place - 9.77 (AR)
Well Gay was just about to land his place on the top of my list for Lows for the entire Trials with his near fatal mistake in the 100 Qualifying rounds earlier in the day. Thinking he had the win, Gay slowed down with about 10m to go, was passed by virtually the entire field and was able to rally in the last 2m and lean to make the Quarterfinals. Sporting a "throwback" 1936 Jesse Owens Olympic replica uniform (see image below), Gay exploded out of the blocks in his Quarterfinal and set an American record while still pulling up again with about 8m to go. Had to run through the line I think he would have run damn close to a world record. If Gay is still getting warmed up I truthfully see him running sub 9.70 at the Olympics.

Lows:
3. Jacob Hernandez - Men's 800m Semi-Finals Heat #2 - 5th Place - 1:46.16
Reigning NCAA 800m champion Hernandez failed to make his first Olympic Trials final, as he was edged out of the final by .14sec. Hernandez is young and has tons of potential in the future. He had a great shot at making the team, but with such a stacked field, a few big names were bound to fall before the final. Joining Hernandez in the "did not qualify" group in the same heat was another former NCAA champ, Sam Burley. A tough result, but there is plenty more to come from Hernandez in the future.

2. Virginia "Gi Gi" Johnson - Women's Heptathalon - 800m - 1st Place - 2:15.88
Gi Gi merely had to beat Diana Pickler by 1.5 seconds and she would have been on the Olympic team. Looking at the results you ask yourself, how could she had done any better, she won the event and clearly did all she could...WRONG. With about 10m to go Johnson threw her hands in the air, unintentionally slowing down in the process, most likely costing her a spot on the Olympic team. Johnson ended up only beating Pickler by about .8sec, however watching Johnson accelerate down the final stretch I really think she could have won by the 1.5sec margin had she focused more on running through the final 10m rather than frivolously celebrating her way off the Olympic team.

1. Allyson Felix - Women's 100m - Finals - 5th Place - 10.96
Granted Felix will make the team, and likely win the Gold Medal, at the 200m, but it is disappointing not to have her in the 100m as well. Felix is one of the most talented sprinters in the world and I think everyone expected her to contend for medals in the 100m and 200m in Beijing. There is little doubt in my mind she will be selected for the 4X100m relay pool, which may give her the chance for 2 Gold medals in Beijing after all.