Three former Syracuse Orange track and field athletes will join current Orange runner Madison Neuner at the US Olympic Track and Field Trials in Eugene, Oregon.
The meet kicks off tonight and will continue for the next week, so let’s get a look at the Orange competing.
Aidan Tooker is the first to take the track. He will be in Heat 2 of the 3000m steeplechase tonight. The top five finishers in the two heats, plus the next four fastest times will advance to Sunday’s Final. The Olympic standard in the event is 8:15, Tooker’s season best in the event is 8:30.
Monday’s action gives us two Syracuse athletes on the track. Freddie Crittenden will be competing in Heat 2 of the 110m hurdles on Monday night. The top six finishers in each of the four first-round heats along with the next three fastest times will advance to the semi-finals on Thursday. There will be three semifinal heats and then the top two in those heats plus the next three fastest times advance to the final next Friday.
Crittenden is currently ranked 5th in the world with his 13.16 time, which is below the Olympic standard of 13.27. It’s one of the toughest events to qualify for and Freddie will need to be at his best to make his first Olympics.
Later on Monday evening, current Orange runner Madison Neuner will run in Heat 2 of the women’s 3000m steeplechase. The top five finishers in the two heats along with the next four fastest times advance to Thursday’s final.
Neuner’s season-best of 9:48 is far off the 9:23 Olympic standard but this is great race experience before returning to collegiate competition next year.
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The final Syracuse alum to compete will be Amanda Vestri in the 10k on Saturday, June 29th. Vestri’s coming into this meet after finishing as the top American at the Mini 10k in New York City. Vestri’s season-best time on the track is 31;10 which means Vestri is within reach of the 30:40 Olympic standard in the event. The performance in NY has put Vestri into contention to make the US team.
There are two other athlete with some Syracuse University ties in the the competition. Sabrina Southerland, the sister of former Orange MBB starter James Southerland will be competing in the women’s 800m. Turner Washington, son of Olympian and former Orange thrower Anthony Washington, will compete in the discus.
Good luck to all of these athletes as they chase their Olympic dreams in Eugene.
Christine Lake is a sports fanatic who lives and breathes athletics. With an extensive background in sports journalism, he covers everything from major league championships to grassroots sports events. When she’s not on the field or at the stadium, you’ll find Christine coaching youth sports teams.
