Falcons Prepare for Olympic Track and Field Trials
6/25/2008 12:00:00 AM | Track and Field
June 25, 2008
USAF ACADEMY, Colo. - Four athletes with ties to the Air Force track and field program will travel to Eugene, Ore., for the 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials, which begin on Friday, June 27, at the historic Hayward Field. Included in this quartet are former standouts, Paul Gensic (pole vault) and Dana Pounds (javelin throw), who are both competing as a part of the Air Force World Class Athlete Program.
Gensic, currently tied for 13th in the pole vault with a personal-best jump of 18'4½", opens the Falcons' seven-day run at the Olympic Trials on Friday, June 27, with the qualifying round of competition at 5:50 p.m. (PST). Pounds, ranked third in the javelin with a mark of 196'7", will compete in the qualifying round on Saturday, June 28 at 12:45 p.m.
Pounds will be making her second appearance at the Olympic Trials. In 2004, Pounds finished sixth at the Olympic Trials with a then-personal-best throw of 173'3".
Volunteer cross country coach Lopez Lomong will also compete at the Trials in the 1500-meter run. He enters the Olympic Trials ranked fifth in that event with a time of 3:36.36. He begins the quarterfinal heat of competition on Thursday, July 3 at 8:25 p.m.
In addition, Nate Garcia, a member of the Army's World Class Athlete Program who has been training with Air Force volunteer coach Bob Graf, will be competing in the 400-meter hurdles in Eugene. With a qualifying time of 49.54, Garcia is ranked 19th in that event.
The Olympic Trials will run from June 27-July 6, in Eugene, Ore. The top three finishers from each event who have met the Olympic "A" standard will be named to the team that will represent the United States at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.
PAUL GENSIC, POLE VAULT
Qualifying: Friday, June 27 - 5:50 p.m.
Final: Sunday, June 29 - 2:40 p.m.
DANA POUNDS, JAVELIN THROW
Qualifying: Saturday, June 28 - 12:45 p.m.
Final: Monday, June 30 - 8:20 p.m.
LOPEZ LOMONG, 1500-METER RUN
Quarterfinal: Thursday, July 3 - 8:25 p.m.
Semifinal: Friday, July 4 - 8:05 p.m.
Final: Sunday, July 6 - 5:50 p.m.
NATE GARCIA, 400-METER HURDLES
Quarterfinal: Friday, June 27 - 7:05 p.m.
Semifinal: Saturday, June 28 - 3:55 p.m.
Final: Sunday, June 29 - 4:17 p.m.
The Olympic Trials will be televised on NBC and USA. Check your local listings for a complete schedule
