Posted: July 11, 2004

Athletics: Nelson, Colander, Burrell post wins at Olympic Trials

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Dramatic twists, some surprises, and exciting competition culminated with Adam Nelson, LaTasha Colander and Shelia Burrell winning the men’s shot put, women’s 100 meters, and women’s heptathlon, respectively, Saturday at the U.S. Olympic Track & Field Trials.

Olympic silver medalist and two-time world championships silver medalist Nelson won his second Olympic Trials title with a fifth-round throw of 21.64m/71-0. World indoor silver medalist Reese Hoffa finished second with 21.14m/69-4.25, and two-time Olympic medalist John Godina punched his third Olympic ticket with a third-place throw of 21.08m/69-2.

It was a tight competition that left the throwers in limbo as the world’s top four shot putters vied for three Olympic spots. Hoffa took the early lead with his opening round 20.41m/66-11.5, but Godina then moved to the front in the second round with 21.00/68-10.75. Nelson at that point was third at 20.91/68-7.25. Facing elimination from the final, Christian Cantwell got his first and only legal throw of the day on his third attempt with 20.56m/67-5.5 to stay alive and move into fourth. (After three rounds of throwing, only the top eight throwers in the 12-man field are allowed to continue throwing; had Cantwell fouled again, he would have been out of the competition.)

Hoffa moved past Nelson and Godina in the fifth round with 21.14/69-4.25. Later in the same round, Nelson popped off his 21.64m throw to take the lead for good. Cantwell’s final throw appeared to put him on the team, but his throw – like four of his previous five – was declared a foul for falling out of the side of the ring. That meant the man who had won 14 straight competitions and who has the top four throws in the world will not compete at the Olympic Games. Even so, Nelson, Hoffa and Godina all talked about a possible – and very realistic – Olympic sweep.

The women’s 100 meters was equally dramatic as LaTasha Colander won the second Olympic Trials title of her career. However, as the 2000 Olympic Trials winner in the 400 meters, it was her first in the 100. Displaying the latter-stages strength and speed she has displayed throughout 2004, Colander moved up to win in 10.97 seconds, tying Lauryn Williams for the fastest American time in 2004.

It was what took place behind Colander that left the crowd at Alex G. Spanos field even more surprised. World outdoor champion Torri Edwards placed second in 11.02 and Williams, the NCAA champion from Miami, was third in 11.10. Gail Devers, the 1992 and 1996 Olympic gold medalist, was fourth by just .01 second in 11.11, while defending Olympic and Olympic Trials champion Marion Jones faded to fifth place in 11.14.

Edwards had blazed to a semifinal win of 11.00, putting her well ahead of Lauryn Williams (11.14) and Angela Williams (11.16). Jones had won the first semifinal in 11.14, with Colander second, also in 11.14.

The women’s heptathlon also was a back-and-forth battle as Tiffany Lott-Hogan led for most of the competition. The 2001 world outdoor bronze medalist, Shelia Burrell had been in sixth after one day of competition, but used a big long jump of 6.24m/20-5.75 to start her march up the standings. Solid performances in the javelin (48.42m/158-10) and 800 meters (2:14.13) were enough to put her on top when it counted – after eight events – with 6,194 points. Lott-Hogan finished second with 6,159, and Michelle Perry was third with 6,126.

The men’s and women’s 400m semifinals provided fast times. NCAA and 2003 U.S. champion Bershawn Jackson ran 48.28 to own the fastest time of the men’s 400m hurdles semifinals, and the fastest time by an American this year. 2002 U.S. champion James Carter won the first semifinal in 48.46, and Olympic gold medalist Angelo Taylor automatically qualified as well (49.19, second in heat 2). Reigning world championships silver medalist Joey Woody was fifth in the race in 49.19 and did not advance.

2002 world junior and NCAA champion Lashinda Demus ran the third-fastest time in the world this year with her semifinal victory of 53.70, while four-time U.S. champion Sandra Glover ran 53.78 in the second semi to equal the fifth-fastest time in the world. Current world #2 Sheena Johnson of UCLA was second in the Glover’s race in 54.16. Also among the qualifiers were and 2001 NCAA champion Brenda Taylor (54.83) and 2003 U.S. champion Raasin McIntosh (55.00).

2002 U.S. indoor and outdoor champion Nicole Teter ran away with an easy win in the first women’s 800m semifinal in 2:01.05. America record holder Jearl Miles-Clark (2:00.33) and her sister-in-law, Hazel Clark (2:00.36) went 1-2 in the second semi, giving themselves the opportunity to potentially make their second Olympic Team together and give Miles-Clark her fourth overall Olympic berth. The surprise of the round came when Jen Toomey was fifth, behind Miles-Clark, and did not advance to Monday’s final.

Sam Burley, the 2003 NCAA champion, led the qualifiers into Monday’s men’s 800m final with his semifinal win in 1:46.79. Khadevis Robinson won the first semifinal in 1:47.49.

The opening two rounds of the men’s 100 meters appeared to set up extremely competitive semifinal and final races on Sunday. In the quarterfinals (second round), Greene won heat 1 in 10.06, Capel took heat 2 in 10.01 with Justin Gatlin second in 10.03, and Shawn Crawford posted the fastest time of the day in winning heat 3 in 10.00. The day had begun with Greene running 10.07, Crawford 10.08, and Gatlin 10.10 in the first round.

All expected qualifiers advanced to Monday’s final of the women’s discus, led by Aretha Hill’s 62.51/205-1, which she unleashed on her first throw. A.G. Kruger had the best throw in men’s hammer qualifying, with 73.75m/241-11.

A first- or second-attempt clearance at 1.82m/5-11.5 was all it took to make the women’s high jump final, which included Amy Acuff and Tisha Waller, as well as top 2004 performers Ifoma Jones and Chaunte Howard.

Events on Sunday include the men’s 100m semifinals and final; Olympic gold medalist Nick Hysong and 2004 world leader Toby Stevenson in the men’s pole vault; 2003 world indoor and outdoor champion Dwight Phillips in the men’s long jump final; and finals in the women’s triple jump and javelin. The first round of the men’s 400m, featuring 2003’s #1 ranked Tyree Washington, also is held.

The top three finishers in each event at the Olympic Trials who have met the Olympic “A” standard are named to the U.S. Olympic Team for Athens.

For results athlete quotes, posted live during competition, visit the Olympic Trials section at www.usatf.org. The USATF Web site also includes a list of all athletes who have achieved the Olympic “A” qualifying standard and full start lists for Saturday’s competition.