2016 U.S. Olympic Team TrialsJul 2, 2016 by Taylor Dutch
Olympic Trials Day 2 Recap: Huddle Dominates 10K, Reese Makes History
Olympic Trials Day 2 Recap: Huddle Dominates 10K, Reese Makes History
FULL RESULTS -- INTERVIEWSEUGENE, Ore. -- Molly Huddle, Emily Infeld and Marielle Hall started the second day of Olympic Trials action with a grind-out 10K
FULL RESULTS -- INTERVIEWS
EUGENE, Ore. -- Molly Huddle, Emily Infeld and Marielle Hall started the second day of Olympic Trials action with a grind-out 10K Olympic berth. Despite a balmy 80-degree heat, Huddle won her second U.S. 10K title in 31:41 and qualified for her second Olympic team. Infeld and Hall finished second in 31:46 and third in 31:54, respectively, winning the battle of attrition to secure spots on Team USA headed to Rio de Janeiro.
Huddle established herself as the pace-maker from the gun by assuming the lead immediately. She pounded 75 and 77-second laps and carried a lead pack which included Infeld, Hall, Jordan Hasay, Kim Conley, Aliphine Tuliamuk, Tara Welling, and Laura Thweatt.
It didn't take long for the race to become a battle as 2012 Olympian Kim Conley lost her shoe around 12 minutes into the race. She was forced to put her shoe back on and quickly hustle to regain her spot in the top pack.
Huddle continued the charge by bringing the lead pack into 5K at 16:09. From that point on, the race was on as the lead pack dwindled down to five ladies -- Huddle, Infeld, Hall, Tuliamuk, and Taylor -- but it was short-lived as a top three emerged in Huddle, Infeld and Hall just before 8K.
At the bell lap, Huddle dropped a hammer of speed that no other competitor could match. She soared to the finish line five seconds ahead of Infeld who made her second international team by finishing second. Hall followed for third, also her second international team after making the 2015 World Championship squad.
Watch Huddle react to winning her second 10K title in a row:
Olympic Champion Brittney Reese made the Hayward crowd rise to their feet when she leapt 7.31m (23' 11") in the long jump, which currently stands as the best jump in the world in 2016. Reese's mark also ties Marion Jones for No. 2 all-time in the U.S. and stands at No. 10 all-time in the world.
The men's 800m semi-final advanced the favorites as Boris Berian won his heat with a 1:45.72 over Erik Sowinski and Cas Loxsom, who both advanced on place. Clayton Murphy claimed heat two in 1:48.97 and was followed by Brandon Johnson and Charles Jock.
But controversy ensued in the second heat when a fall took place that affected Ole Miss' Craig Engels and new Brooks Beasts member Shaq Walker. Both Engels and Walker camps protested the fall and Engels was officially allowed to advance to the next round, setting up a nine-man final.
UPDATE: Craig Engels fell in the final stretch and will be advanced to finals.
— TrackTown USA (@GoTrackTownUSA) July 2, 2016
To avoid disqualifications, nine men will run in the final.
The women's 800m semi-final set the stage for what could be an incredibly fast final as Brenda Martinez and Molly Ludlow ran season's best marks of 1:59.64 and 1:59.81, respectively, in heat two. Alysia Montano finished third to advance, and Raevyn Rogers and Phoebe Wright both advanced on time with fourth and fifth-place finishes. Ajee Wilson, Kate Grace, and Chrishuna Williams automatically advanced out of the first heat.
World indoor champion Trayvon Bromell proved he is back to health by blasting a wind-legal 9.94 in the first round of the 100m. The young pro emerged victorious in heat three to safely advance to the semi-final round with the fastest time of the day.
World silver medalist Justin Gatlin also safely advanced out of the second heat by running 10.03 to beat Georgia's Kendal Williams.
Young pro and Oregon grad Jenna Prandini unleashed her fastest time to date in the first round of the women's 100m by running 10.81 in heat four. Although her time wasn't wind-legal (she was carried by a 3.6 m/s tail-wind), Prandini's performance is faster than her wind-legal personal best of 10.92 from last year and sets her up well for a quick semi-final run.
Prandini led a solid group of Oregon alumni into the semi-final as world finalist English Gardner, 2016 NCAA Champion Ariana Washington, All American Deajah Stevens, and former Duck All American Jasmine Todd all advanced to the next round.
The 400m semi-final round saw Olympic Champion Allyson Felix safely make it into the final despite battling an ankle injury. After finishing second to Francena McCorory in heat one by running 50.31, she told the media that she would "just keep fighting" through the rounds.
The men's 400m semi-final saw the fall of a sprinting legend as 2004 Olympic Champion Jeremy Wariner pulled up around the turn of heat two and was forced to walk off the track. However, he told the media after his race that "This is not it for me."
"This is not it for me." - Jeremy Wariner #TrackTown16
— Chris Chavez (@ChrisChavez) July 2, 2016
Tony McQuay blasted the fastest time of the day with a 44.24 out of heat one and Olympic Champion LaShawn Merritt safely advanced with a 45.05 victory in heat two.
The first day of the decathlon saw an unfortunate turn of events for world champion Trey Hardee who has been battling a hamstring injury from two weeks ago. Hardee finished the final event of day one with the 400m where he ran 1:12.49 which only earned him 90 points. He also only cleared 1.82m in the high jump.
Day three action continues Sunday with the second day of the decathlon and finals of the high jump, long jump, 400m, and 100m.