Aarik Wilson, Shannon Rowbury, Jordan Hasay,  Michael Robertson, Stacy Dragila

from Fred Baer - July 6, 2008

--The PA had winners Sunday from the East end of the Association (Fallon, Nev.) and the West end (San Francisco) -- probably the first Olympic trials winners from both cities since USATF was formed (?).  

--following is a combination of IU press release (with my addition of his P.A. hometown) and quotes from USATF:


Athlete Quotes - Women's 1500m Final

Shannon Rowbury, Olympic Qualifier, Winner

"I reacted well and was able to bring home the win. I'm so excited because we have a great contingent going to Beijing. Should be an exciting next couple of months and I can't wait till August."
"I had a few plans depending on how the race went with the wind, but I just tried to stay relaxed and tried to drive through the finish."
"I didn't expect to be the favorite and I am just happy with how the year went and with the training. I have always had confidence in myself."


Wilson Punches Ticket to China

EUGENE, Ore. - Former Indiana University standout Aarik Wilson from Fallon, Nev. won the finals in the triple jump at the U.S. Track and Field Olympic Trials on July 6.

Wilson's jump of 17.43m (57-2.25) was a new Hayward Stadium record, adding a centimeter to the mark recorded by Charles Simpkins in 1986. Wilson's mark was 20 centimeters better than the second-place jump by Kenta Bell.

Wilson last competed for the Hoosiers in 2005, when he won the last four of his ten Big Ten championships. He was also an All-American ten times at Indiana.


Athlete Quotes - Men's Triple Jump Final

Aarik Wilson, Olympic Qualifier, First Place
"I was just trying to hold it together. I was so nervous being in fifth place. I saw my coach sweating from a mile away. I was just trying to think of everything he told me and make sure I got to the pit. Make sure I was on the board and get to the pit. That worked out. God carried me."
"I haven't jumped in awhile. I have been hurt. I have a stress fracture so I haven't jumped much since May. Today I felt like I could put one together. I had to make sure I didn't let nerves get the best of me and make sure I got on the board."
"I was diagnosed May 28. I haven't jumped. I haven't ran. I ran twice. I ran the day before I left to come here and I ran the day I got here. I was just praying a lot. I was just praying and hoping I could get one together. My tibia in my left leg has a stress fracture. The doctor told me it was going to take six to eight weeks for me to heal."


Athlete Quotes - Jordan Hasay, 10th Place, Women's 1500m

"I just really wanted to have fun out there. I didn't really know how it was going to be. It was just going to kind of be a test for me to see because I never really race this much in a continuous amount of time."
"I felt good. The race went out a little slower which was good for me because I still kind of felt like I was in it for a little bit. The final kick I just did as best as I could but it just wasn't there at the end."
"I am really happy with the way I have performed these three days."
"I learned a lot of things. I learned that I can come out and compete and not be intimidated. At the same time, I learned that I still have a lot of work to do to be up there and perform consistently at this level."


Athlete Quotes - Stanford's Michael Robertson made the Olympic team with second place in the discus throw:

Athlete Quotes - Men's Discus Throw Final Michael Robertson, Olympic Qualifier, Second Place                                                                  
"Now that it's finally here, I can safely say -- yes, I'm going."
"Once the competition started going, I had confidence in my ability. We have a lot of work to get done. We'll try to raise the level before Beijing."
"I'm relieved. After a year of this being my primary concern, my primary goal ... I've centered my life around this. I finally made it. It's a relief more than anything. The rest will start sinking in over the next few days."
On moving/training at Stanford: "It's gives you confidence, being in that atmosphere. Everything, the academics, carry over into track. You learn to fight your way through hardship, upsets, misfortune. It makes it that much easier."


Athlete Quotes - Stacy Dragila fails to make her third Olympic team:   

Women’s pole vault finals:Stacy Dragila
"Obviously it wasn't a good day. I was healthy. I just didn't feel on. I didn't have my "A" game. It didn't take much to make the team, which I kind of thought all the anxiety of the young athletes ... I just knew I needed to have poise out there. I got a little flustered. I brought out a couple poles and then I picked up the wrong one and second guessed myself on that first one. And then the second one, the wind pushed."
"It just wasn't in the cards today."