Posted: July 11, 2004

Athletics: Toomey Does Not Advance In 800M

From David Monti

(c) 2004 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved RaceResultsWeekly.com

SACRAMENTO (10-Jul) -- Jen Toomey, the pint-sized former diver who finished fourth at the IAAF World Indoor Championships last March, failed to advance in the semi-final rounds of the 800m held here today, ending her chances of competing in the Olympic Games 800m.

In hot and still conditions, Toomey was running eight after the runners broke for the pole in the second semi-final. She got into the race by the end of the first lap (58.63), but in the final 200m, she was clearly struggling, and went on to finish fifth in 2:03.89. Only the top-4 advanced to the final, led by Jearl Miles-Clark (2:00.33) and sister-in-law Hazel Clark 3/100ths of a second behind.

Toomey suffered a knee injury during a weight workout in the spring, and had only returned to training full-time at the beginning of June.

"It wasn't a great day," said Barbara Huebner, who handles media relations for Global Athletics & Management, the Boston-based management firm which represents Toomey.

"It was what I expected," said Toomey. "I haven't been feeling great in races. I was injured in April - I tore the medial meniscus in my left leg and missed six weeks. I had the same injury before and reaggravated it while lifting. I've only had four to five weeks to train for today and I am healthy."

Toomey, 32, still intends to compete in the 1500m here. That competition begins next Friday. She has never competed in an Olympic Games.

In the first semi-final, Nicole Teter had no trouble advancing to the final, surging to the front from the gun and leading all the way to the line.

"I went out there and took the lead and took control and that's the way I like it," said Teter, the U.S. indoor record holder. "I'm not ashamed to say I was a little bit scared out there. There's nothing really to say until Monday when we get out there in the final."

In the men's 800m semi-finals, the key favorites all advanced to the final. Khadevis Robinson came from seventh place to win the first semi in 1:47.47, trailed closely by Derrick Peterson in 1:47.87. In the second semi, Sam Burley came from fifth place with 300m to go to get the win in 1:46.79. David Krumenacker also advance in a tightly bunched finish, finishing third behind Jonathan Johnson of Texas Tech.

Middle and long distance action does not resume here until Monday when the men's and women's 800m finals are held, along with the men's 3000m steeplechase semi-finals, the men's 5000m semis and the women's 5000m final, which will feature Marla Runyan, Shalane Flanagan, Shayne Culpepper, Carrie Tollefson, Amy Rudloph and Jen Rhines.