June 30, 2008
LIVE RESULTS
Penn State U.S. Olympic Trials Recap 1
EUGENE, Ore. - Nittany Lion Shana Cox (Westbury, N.Y.) is one step closer to making the US Olympic Team, after advancing through the first round of the 400-meters, Sunday at the US Olympic Trials at Hayward Field. In the field, former Nittany lion Shakeema Welsch (formerly Walker) managed a second-place effort in the triple jump with a wind aided leap of 46-10 (14.27).
Out strong from the gun, Cox cruised down the homestretch to finish in 51.69, taking the third spot and final automatic spot in her quarter-final heat. Cox will be back in action in the 400 semi-finals tomorrow evening. Teammate Dominique Blake (Bronx, N.Y.) saw her sensational season come to a close, closing out her senior campaign with a time of 53.90 - good for 23rd overall.
Another Nittany Lion alum is off a running in the men's decathlon, as Ryan Olkowski sits in seventh place with five events completed. Olkowski, who totaled 4076 points on day one, registered marks of 10.85 in the 100-meters, 23-1.25 (7.04m) in the long jump, 41-03 (12.57) in the shot put, 6-09.75 (2.08m) in the high jump - which was tied for the highest jump of the day - and 49.46 in the 400.
The weekend hasn't been without some heartbreak for the Nittany Lion contingent as volunteer coach Gigi Johnson, finished fourth in yesterday's heptathlon, coming up just 10 points shy of a spot on the Olympic team. Johnson still has a shot at Beijing, however, as she is entered in the 100-meter hurdles, which are set for next week.
Senior Heidi Nadeau (North Hampton, N.H.) also closed out her Nittany Lion career on Saturday, finishing 16th in the women's javelin with a toss of 154-03 (47.02).
Day four of the eight-day competition begins tomorrow, with the men's decathlon 100-meters at 11:30 a.m. PST.
--NITTANY LIONS--