As expected, the third-place dead heat in the U.S. Olympic Trials women's 100 meters won't be broken until after the women finish their 200-meter competition on Saturday. Both Allyson Felix and Jeneba Tarmoh ran their preliminary 200-meter heats on Thursday, and both qualified for today's semifinal. The final is scheduled for 6:50 p.m. (Pacific time) tomorrow.
In other action Thursday, Galen Rupp completed the 5000-10,000 double by edging Bernard Lagat in the 5000-meter final. Lagat passed Rupp on the final turn, but Rupp counter-attacked on the straight to win in 13:22.67, with Lagat second in 13:22.82. Lopez Lomong then grabbed the third Olympic berth, finishing in 13:24.47.
The women's 5000 also generated some excitement, with an even closer finish for third place. Julie Culley won the race in 15:13.77, followed by Molly Huddle (15:14.40). Kim Conley then won a double race to earn the final American Olympic team spot. First, Conley sprinted to the finish to edge a fading Julia Lucas by four-hundredths of a second. Just as importantly, Conley didn't enter the race with a qualifying Olympic A standard time. But she crossed the line in 15:19.79, beating the A standard by .21 to punch her ticket to London.
Other Americans earning Olympic team berths Thursday were Evan Jager, Donald Cabral and Kyle Alcorn in the men's steeplechase; Brad Walker, Jeremy Scott and Derek Miles in the men's pole vault; plus Lance Brooks, Jarred Rome and Jason Young in the men's discus throw. Despite winning the event, Brooks didn't achieve the Olympic A standard until his final throw. Rome and Young had achieved the A standard previously.
For a look at two of the all-time great Olympic accomplishments, read more about Jackie Joyner-Kersee's back-to-back heptathlon gold medals, and the Lagat-Hicham El Guerrouj showdown at the 2004 Games. You can also check out new profiles of Rupp and Justin Gatlin.
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