Posted: August 4, 2004

Athletics: Tollefson Fails to Finish in Belgium

From Newswire Reports:

Minnesota distance runner Carrie Tollefson failed to finish a 1,500-meter race in Liege, Belgium, on Tuesday, missing her chance to secure a spot on the U.S. Olympic team but doing nothing to damage her standing.

On Sunday, Tollefson ran a time of 4 minutes, 6.30 seconds in winning a 1,500 race in Heusden-Zolder, Belgium. That time cracked the Olympic qualifying "B" standard of 4:07.15. She is still trying to gain the "A" standard of 4:05.80.

Because Tollefson won the Olympic trials 1,500 in Sacramento, Calif., last month, the "B" standard might be enough to get her a spot in the women's 1,500 in Athens. Jen Toomey, who finished second at the trials, and Amy Rudolph, who finished third, are still trying to achieve the "A." If they do, they would bump Tollefson out of the Olympics unless Tollefson made the "A" standard.