Saturday, July 9
Eugene, OR
6:30PM
Florida Gators
vs
USATF Olympic Trials
Christian Taylor and Will Claye are both heading to their second consecutive Olympic Games.
Claye, Taylor Nab Second Consecutive Olympic Team Berths; Lyles Breaks American Junior Record
Saturday, July 9, 2016 | Track and Field, Olympics
This is the sixth consecutive American championship featuring a 1-2 finish by Gator triple jumpers
EUGENE, Ore. – For the second consecutive United States Track and Field Olympic Trials, Gator triple jumpers Will Claye and Christian Taylor were the top two finishers and secured spots on Team USA for the Summer Olympics.
Unlike the 2012 Olympic Trials, Claye was crowned the American champion. In addition to it being Claye's second American title in the last three years, his victory ensured the American triple jump crown was won by a Gator for a sixth consecutive year.
Taylor, the American record holder, logged his fourth top-two finish at the U.S. championships since 2010. The two-time American champion and reigning World Championships gold medalist finished with a top mark of 17.39 meters, 26 centimeters shy of Claye's winning jump (17.65 meters).
Following the 2012 Olympic Trials, Taylor went on to claim the gold medal, while Claye nabbed the silver medal at the London Olympics.
This also marks the sixth consecutive year Gators posted a 1-2 finish in the triple jump at the American championships. And it's the seventh straight year a Gator triple jumper cracked the top two.
Not to be overshadowed by the veterans, incoming freshman Noah Lyles broke 31-year-old American junior and national high school records to take fourth in the men's 200 meter final. Lyles' time of 20.09 is the fourth-fastest ever recorded by a junior athlete in world history. The Alexandra, Va. native missed the final Team USA spot by nine hundredths of second.
Two-time American champion Omar Craddock finished fourth in the triple jump for a second straight Olympic Trials. Craddock's top mark of 17.16 meters was six centimeters short of third-place finisher Chris Bernard, who nabbed the final Team USA berth.
Although he finished ninth Saturday (July 9) evening, sophomore KeAndre Bates joined Mike Conley (1984) and Walter Davis (2000) as the only collegians since 1972 to log top-10 finishes in both the long jump and triple jump at the USATF Olympic Trials. Bates took sixth place in Monday's (July 4) long jump final.
At the European Championships, Gator Great and 2016 Olympics qualifier Stipe Zunic finished sixth in shot put qualifying to advance to Sunday's (July 10) final.
The live television broadcast and online streaming for the final day of USATF Olympic Trials action will be provided by NBC and NBC Sports Live Extra. Broadcast times and links can be found in the information below.
FLORIDA TRACK & FIELD 2016 OLYMPIANS (10)
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
Will Claye on his Olympic Trials triple jump title…
"It's been an emotional roller coaster this week. I couldn't have done it without my family, my friends, and my coaches to just clear my mind of everything that's been going on. It was very stressful, but I was able come into the triple jump competition with a clear mind and just have fun. I just did what I usually do. The distances showed."
Claye on why he was so emotional after his victory…
"Just everything I've been through this year. Last year having an injury, earlier this season having an injury, the long jump debacle with not having that standard. All of that was just going through my head. Just to be able to finally come through and make the team I've been training for for the last four years was just so emotional. It just brought me to tears."
Noah Lyles on breaking the national high school record…
"That's icing on the cake to what we had to do this week. Ran three of my best races and got to PR at the end. It's definitely a huge milestone."
Lyles on his race and whether he executed as well as he could have…
"As soon as I came off that turn, I knew we were somewhere even and I was in the race. I had no idea where I was. I just stuck to my plan to come off the turn with speed and finish, because I knew people were going to be breaking down and that would be my strength. I don't think I left anything on that track."
Christian Taylor on making the Olympic Team…
"Now it's back to work. My main goal was making the team, but now I can get back to training, get my head right, and defend this (Olympic) title."
Taylor on whether or not it was bittersweet to make the Olympic Team, but finish second…
"For me, I know it sounds weird, but it's actually exciting. Just to get that fire, that hunger back again. I was undefeated for a while. When you lose, you kind of challenge yourself to wake up again and push a little harder in training. For me, it was a nice little awakening. I know when I need to get to job done, I will. Two Gators making the Olympic Team, that was the most important thing to me."
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Unlike the 2012 Olympic Trials, Claye was crowned the American champion. In addition to it being Claye's second American title in the last three years, his victory ensured the American triple jump crown was won by a Gator for a sixth consecutive year.
Taylor, the American record holder, logged his fourth top-two finish at the U.S. championships since 2010. The two-time American champion and reigning World Championships gold medalist finished with a top mark of 17.39 meters, 26 centimeters shy of Claye's winning jump (17.65 meters).
Following the 2012 Olympic Trials, Taylor went on to claim the gold medal, while Claye nabbed the silver medal at the London Olympics.
This also marks the sixth consecutive year Gators posted a 1-2 finish in the triple jump at the American championships. And it's the seventh straight year a Gator triple jumper cracked the top two.
Not to be overshadowed by the veterans, incoming freshman Noah Lyles broke 31-year-old American junior and national high school records to take fourth in the men's 200 meter final. Lyles' time of 20.09 is the fourth-fastest ever recorded by a junior athlete in world history. The Alexandra, Va. native missed the final Team USA spot by nine hundredths of second.
Two-time American champion Omar Craddock finished fourth in the triple jump for a second straight Olympic Trials. Craddock's top mark of 17.16 meters was six centimeters short of third-place finisher Chris Bernard, who nabbed the final Team USA berth.
Although he finished ninth Saturday (July 9) evening, sophomore KeAndre Bates joined Mike Conley (1984) and Walter Davis (2000) as the only collegians since 1972 to log top-10 finishes in both the long jump and triple jump at the USATF Olympic Trials. Bates took sixth place in Monday's (July 4) long jump final.
At the European Championships, Gator Great and 2016 Olympics qualifier Stipe Zunic finished sixth in shot put qualifying to advance to Sunday's (July 10) final.
The live television broadcast and online streaming for the final day of USATF Olympic Trials action will be provided by NBC and NBC Sports Live Extra. Broadcast times and links can be found in the information below.
FLORIDA TRACK & FIELD 2016 OLYMPIANS (10)
- Andres Arroyo (Puerto Rico) – 800 meters
- Will Claye (United States) – Triple Jump
- 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
- Christian Taylor (United States) – Triple Jump
- Stipe Zunic (Croatia) – Shot Put
2016 USATF OLYMPIC TRIALS MEET INFORMATION (all times Eastern)
- Live Results (USATF)
- READ: Day Eight Recap
- 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) |
| 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 Nine – Saturday, July 9th | |
| Event | Place, Athlete – Time/Mark [Wind] | Notes |
| TJ (M) | 1. Will Claye – 17.65 meters (57-11) [+2.0] | Clinched Team USA berth |
| 2. Christian Taylor – 17.39 meters (57-0.75) [-0.8] | Clinched Team USA berth | |
| 4. Omar Craddock – 17.16 meters (56-3.75) [+1.8] | Missed final Team USA spot by 6 centimeters | |
| 9. KeAndre Bates – 16.50 meters (54-1.75) [+1.2] | Third collegian since 1972 to post top-10 finishes in long jump and triple jump at Olympic Trials | |
| 200m (W)^ | 18. Kyra Jefferson – 23.14 [+0.4] |
| 200m (M) | 4. Noah Lyles – 20.09 [+1.6] | American junior record; national high school record |
| Day Ten – Sunday, July 10th | |
| Time | Athlete – Event |
| 7:51 p.m. | Kerron Clement – Men's 400-meter Hurdles |
Notes: Bold italics denotes final; * - denotes prelim/qualifying; ^ - denotes semifinal; only finals listed from previous days of competition
QUOTES FROM THE GATORS
Will Claye on his Olympic Trials triple jump title…
"It's been an emotional roller coaster this week. I couldn't have done it without my family, my friends, and my coaches to just clear my mind of everything that's been going on. It was very stressful, but I was able come into the triple jump competition with a clear mind and just have fun. I just did what I usually do. The distances showed."
Claye on why he was so emotional after his victory…
"Just everything I've been through this year. Last year having an injury, earlier this season having an injury, the long jump debacle with not having that standard. All of that was just going through my head. Just to be able to finally come through and make the team I've been training for for the last four years was just so emotional. It just brought me to tears."
Noah Lyles on breaking the national high school record…
"That's icing on the cake to what we had to do this week. Ran three of my best races and got to PR at the end. It's definitely a huge milestone."
Lyles on his race and whether he executed as well as he could have…
"As soon as I came off that turn, I knew we were somewhere even and I was in the race. I had no idea where I was. I just stuck to my plan to come off the turn with speed and finish, because I knew people were going to be breaking down and that would be my strength. I don't think I left anything on that track."
Christian Taylor on making the Olympic Team…
"Now it's back to work. My main goal was making the team, but now I can get back to training, get my head right, and defend this (Olympic) title."
Taylor on whether or not it was bittersweet to make the Olympic Team, but finish second…
"For me, I know it sounds weird, but it's actually exciting. Just to get that fire, that hunger back again. I was undefeated for a while. When you lose, you kind of challenge yourself to wake up again and push a little harder in training. For me, it was a nice little awakening. I know when I need to get to job done, I will. Two Gators making the Olympic Team, that was the most important thing to me."
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
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