Friday, July 8
Eugene, OR
6PM
Florida Gators
vs
USATF Olympic Trials
Kyra Jefferson finished strong in what was her first race since late May.
Three Gators Qualify for Finals, Semifinals at USATF Olympic Trials
Friday, July 8, 2016 | Track and Field, Olympics
In addition to UF's U.S. Olympic Trials competitors, rising sophomore Kunle Fasasi nabbed the Nigerian 400 meters title
EUGENE, Ore. – Three Gators qualified for either the semifinals or final of their respective event on day eight of the United States Track and Field Olympic Trials, as Kerron Clement (400-meter hurdles), Kyra Jefferson (200 meters), and Noah Lyles (200 meters) all saw their Rio de Janeiro aspirations survive a difficult day of competition.
Clement, now one race away from making his third U.S. Olympic team, posted the fourth-fastest overall semifinals time (49.28 seconds) to advance to the final.
In her first race since the NCAA Outdoor Championships East Preliminary back in late May, Jefferson took third place in her heat to qualify for the semifinals. The Detroit native clocked in at 23.17 despite a second consecutive day of cool, rainy conditions at Historic Hayward Field.
Lyles won his heat of the men's 200 semifinals to automatically advance to Saturday's (July 9) final. The incoming freshman clocked the sixth-fastest overall time (20.26) of the semis. Lyles will be one of two recent high school graduates competing in the final.
At the All-Nigerian Athletics Championship, rising sophomore Kunle Fasasi won the 400 meters title with a time of 46.22. Although Fasasi is the champion of what essentially are Nigeria's Olympic Trials, he does not have the Olympics minimum entry standard of 45.40. Fasasi's top time during the Olympic qualifying period was 45.43, which he ran at this year's Pepsi Florida Relays (April 1) in Gainesville.
At the Canadian Olympic Trials, rising junior Taylor Sharpe qualified for the 400 meters final, clocking the sixth-fastest overall time of the prelims (54.96).
Live television broadcasts and online streaming for the USATF Olympic Trials will be provided each day by NBC, NBC Sports Network, and NBC Sports Live Extra. Broadcast times and links can be found in the information below.
FLORIDA TRACK & FIELD 2016 OLYMPIANS (8)
2016 USATF OLYMPIC TRIALS MEET INFORMATION (all times Eastern)
Notes: Bold italics denotes final; * - denotes prelim/qualifying; ^ - denotes semifinal; only finals listed from previous days of competition
QUOTES FROM THE GATORS
Kerron Clement on what he needs to do to make his third Olympic team…
"A will to win. A will to make the team. (I've) got to stay focused, zoned in. It's not my first rodeo. Really excited to be in the finals and to try and make my third Olympic team."
Clement on what he'll do between now and Sunday to make sure he's at his best for the final…
"Just get rested, get a lot of treatment, ice tank, cold tank. And just relax and get my mind free. Then come back on Sunday and go all out."
Kyra Jefferson on her first Olympic Trials race…
"It was exciting. I was kind of nervous, but after the gun went off I let it all go and did the best I could. This was my first race back since regionals, so I was a little nervous about it. But it was still a great experience, and I'm happy I made the semifinals."
Jefferson on what it was like to race again and what she needs to improve on for the semifinals…
"It feels great. I'm just happy I'm healthy and nothing hurts. My start most definitely (needs to improve). I kind of did a sit and kick. But the goal today was to make it to the semifinals, and I did that."
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Clement, now one race away from making his third U.S. Olympic team, posted the fourth-fastest overall semifinals time (49.28 seconds) to advance to the final.
In her first race since the NCAA Outdoor Championships East Preliminary back in late May, Jefferson took third place in her heat to qualify for the semifinals. The Detroit native clocked in at 23.17 despite a second consecutive day of cool, rainy conditions at Historic Hayward Field.
Lyles won his heat of the men's 200 semifinals to automatically advance to Saturday's (July 9) final. The incoming freshman clocked the sixth-fastest overall time (20.26) of the semis. Lyles will be one of two recent high school graduates competing in the final.
At the All-Nigerian Athletics Championship, rising sophomore Kunle Fasasi won the 400 meters title with a time of 46.22. Although Fasasi is the champion of what essentially are Nigeria's Olympic Trials, he does not have the Olympics minimum entry standard of 45.40. Fasasi's top time during the Olympic qualifying period was 45.43, which he ran at this year's Pepsi Florida Relays (April 1) in Gainesville.
At the Canadian Olympic Trials, rising junior Taylor Sharpe qualified for the 400 meters final, clocking the sixth-fastest overall time of the prelims (54.96).
Live television broadcasts and online streaming for the USATF Olympic Trials will be provided each day by NBC, NBC Sports Network, and NBC Sports Live Extra. Broadcast times and links can be found in the information below.
FLORIDA TRACK & FIELD 2016 OLYMPIANS (8)
- Andres Arroyo (Puerto Rico) – 800 meters
- Marquis Dendy (United States) – Long Jump
- Arman Hall (United States) - 4x400 Relay
- Genevieve LaCaze (Australia) – 3,000-meter Steeplechase; 5,000 meters
- Eddie Lovett (U.S. Virgin Islands) – 110-meter Hurdles
- Kemal Mesic (Bosnia) – Shot Put
- Shara Proctor (Great Britain) – Long Jump
- Stipe Zunic (Croatia) – Shot Put
2016 USATF OLYMPIC TRIALS MEET INFORMATION (all times Eastern)
- Live Results (USATF)
- READ: Day Seven Recap
- READ: Day Four Recap
- READ: Day Three Recap (Dendy Clinches Team USA Berth, Quarter-Milers in Relay Pool Mix)
- READ: Day Two Recap
- READ: Day One Recap
- FEATURE: Arman Hall's Month Away from Track Led to Resurgence
- Venue: Historic Hayward Field (Eugene, Ore.)
- Complete Meet Schedule
| Television Broadcast Schedule | |
| Date | Time (Network & Streaming Link) |
| Saturday, July 9th (Day Nine) | 6:30-8 p.m. (NBC Sports Live Extra) |
| Saturday, July 9th (Day Nine) | 8-9 p.m. (NBC) |
| Sunday, July 10th (Day Ten) | 4:45-6 p.m. (NBC Sports Live Extra) |
| Sunday, July 10th (Day Ten) | 7-8:30 p.m. (NBC) |
| Day Two – Saturday, July 2nd | |
| Event | Place, Athlete – Time/Mark [Wind] | Notes |
| DT (W) | 7. Rachel Longfors – 58.87 meters (193-1) |
| Day Three – Sunday, July 3rd | |
| Event | Place, Athlete – Time/Mark [Wind] | Notes |
| LJ (M) | 3. Will Claye – 8.42 meters (27-7.5) [+5.0] | Does not have Olympic standard, not qualified for Olympics |
| 4. Marquis Dendy – 8.42 meters (27-7.5) [+1.6] | Team USA Olympian | |
| 6. KeAndre Bates – 8.32 meters (27-3.75) [+3.6] | All-conditions PR by 21 centimeters (7.5 inches) | |
| 400m (M) | 4. Arman Hall – 45.09 |
| 5. Tony McQuay – 45.30 | |
| 7. Najee Glass – 45.48 | |
| Day Seven – Thursday, July 7th | |
| Event | Place, Athlete – Time/Mark [Wind] | Notes |
| TJ (W) | 5. Ciarra Brewer – 13.80 meters (45-3.5) [+1.1] |
| Day Eight – Friday, July 8th | |
| Event | Place, Athlete – Time/Mark [Wind] | Notes |
| 200m (W)* | 19. Kyra Jefferson – 23.17 [+0.9] | Advanced to semifinals (automatic) |
| 400mH (M)^ | 4. Kerron Clement – 49.28 | Advanced to final (automatic) |
| 9. TJ Holmes – 49.93 | |
| 11. Eric Futch – 50.27 | Missed final qualifying spot from his heat by 0.01 seconds | |
| 1,500m (W)^ | 11. Cory McGee – 4:12.19 |
| 200m (M)^ | 6. Noah Lyles – 20.26 [+0.4] | Advanced to final (automatic) |
| Day Nine – Saturday, July 9th | |
| Time | Athlete – Event |
| 7:15 p.m. | KeAndre Bates; Will Claye; Omar Craddock; Christian Taylor – Men's Triple Jump |
| 8:03 p.m. | Kyra Jefferson – Women's 200 meters (Semifinals) |
| 8:42 p.m. | Noah Lyles – Men's 200 meters |
| Day Ten – Sunday, July 10th | |
| Time | Athlete – Event |
| 7:51 p.m. | Kerron Clement – Men's 400-meter Hurdles |
| 8:11 p.m. | Kyra Jefferson – Women's 200 meters |
Notes: Bold italics denotes final; * - denotes prelim/qualifying; ^ - denotes semifinal; only finals listed from previous days of competition
QUOTES FROM THE GATORS
Kerron Clement on what he needs to do to make his third Olympic team…
"A will to win. A will to make the team. (I've) got to stay focused, zoned in. It's not my first rodeo. Really excited to be in the finals and to try and make my third Olympic team."
Clement on what he'll do between now and Sunday to make sure he's at his best for the final…
"Just get rested, get a lot of treatment, ice tank, cold tank. And just relax and get my mind free. Then come back on Sunday and go all out."
Kyra Jefferson on her first Olympic Trials race…
"It was exciting. I was kind of nervous, but after the gun went off I let it all go and did the best I could. This was my first race back since regionals, so I was a little nervous about it. But it was still a great experience, and I'm happy I made the semifinals."
Jefferson on what it was like to race again and what she needs to improve on for the semifinals…
"It feels great. I'm just happy I'm healthy and nothing hurts. My start most definitely (needs to improve). I kind of did a sit and kick. But the goal today was to make it to the semifinals, and I did that."
FOLLOW THE GATORS
SOCIAL: Twitter | Facebook | YouTube | Instagram
JOIN THE CONVERSATION: #GoGators; #GatorsAlways; #TrackTown16; #PushTheButton
Follow all our Olympic Gators in Rio
- Gators Competing at the 2016 Olympic Games
- Previous Gator Olympic Rosters
- Gators History at the Olympic Games (PDF)
Official Gators Olympics Social Media
@GatorsOlympics on Twitter | Gators Olympics on Facebook | #GatorsAlways
Players Mentioned
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