Former Gator Heaston Qualifies for 2008 Olympic Games
Sunday, July 6, 2008 | Track and Field
Former University of Florida thrower Kristin Heaston (Walnut Creek, Calif.) became the seventh track and field athlete with Gator ties to qualify for the 2008 Olympic Games when she finished second in the finals of the women's shot put on Saturday at historic Hayward Field.
Heaston (UF 1995-98) punched her ticket to Beijing with a toss of 60-2/18.34m, marking the second Olympic Games berth of her career.
“I am so excited about making this team,” Heaston said. “I have been waiting all season for this adrenaline to get ready for the Olympic Trials and to perform well at the Olympic Trials, and it has not been there. I had a couple of warm-up throws in between preliminaries and finals, and something just turned on. I am just happy that my last three throws were better than my first three throws.”
Heaston joins Hazel Clark (US – 800m), Kerron Clement (US – 400IH), Mariam Kevkhishvili (Georgia – shot put), Tiandra Ponteen (St. Kitts – 400m), Calvin Smith (US – 4x400m) and Novlene Williams-Mills (Jamaica – 400m), as the seven track and field athletes with Florida ties who have already qualified for the 2008 Games.
Former Florida sprinters Bernard Williams (Mirimar, Fla.) and John Capel (Brooksville, Fla.) each advanced to the semifinals of the men's 200-meter dash. Williams qualified for the finals, finishing eighth in the semifinal round in a time of 20.60 (-0.9), while Capel was unable to advance, concluding the race in 12th place in 20.81 (+2.2). The finals take place at 7:25 p.m. EDT Sunday.
Former Gator thrower Liz Wanless (Belleville, Ill.) saw her Olympic bid come up short, finishing fifth in the event with a toss of 58-11.50/17.97m. Erin Gilreath (Williston, Fla.) was 12th in the finals of the women's hammer throw with a mark of 208-4/63.50m.
Senior Florida sprinter Natalie Knight (Snellville, Ga.) finished 21st in the quarterfinals of the women's 200-meter dash with a time of 23.57 (-1.3).
Complete daily coverage of current and former Gators in the 2008 U.S. Track and Field Olympic Trials will be available at www.GatorZone.com.
CURRENT GATORS IN COMPETITION ON SATURDAY
Women's 200-Meter Dash Quarterfinals
21. Natalie Knight – 23.57 (-1.3)
FORMER GATORS IN COMPETITION ON SATURDAY
Men's 200-Meter Dash Quarterfinals
4. Bernard Williams – 20.61 (+1.4) Q
10. John Capel – 20.70 (+1.4) Q
Men's 200-Meter Dash Semifinals
8. Bernard Williams – 20.60 (-0.9) Q
12. John Capel – 20.81 (+2.2)
Women's Hammer Throw Finals
12. Erin Gilreath – 208-4/63.50m
Women's Shot Put Finals
2. Kristin Heaston – 60-2/18.34m (Olympic Qualifer)
5. Liz Wanless – 58-11.50/17.97m
END OF REPORT
