Hokie ClubEUGENE, Ore. - Eight current and former Virginia Tech track and field athletes will be competing for a chance to represent the United States in this summer's Olympic Games when the U.S. Olympic Trials begin on Friday at the University of Oregon's Hayward Field.
The trials will run through July 6, and the 2008 Olympic Games will take place from August 8-24 in Beijing, China.
Those Hokies who will be returning to Tech next year include Kristi Castlin (rising junior, Douglasville, Ga.), Tasmin Fanning (rising senior, Charlottesville, Va.), Queen Harrison (rising junior, Richmond, Va.) and Brittany Pryor (rising redshirt senior, Niagara Falls, N.Y.)
Castlin and Harrison will each compete in the 100-meter hurdles, while Harrison will also enter the 400-meter hurdles. Neither was able to take part in this month's NCAA Championships due to injuries, but both hope to be ready to go in Eugene.
Fanning, who became an All-American in the 5,000 meters with a sixth-place finish at the NCAA Championships, will run the same event at the trials. Depending on how she performs, she has the option of also entering the 1,500 meters, as well.
Pryor placed seventh in the hammer throw at NCAAs and will take part in the event alongside Kristen Callan (Monroe, N.Y.), who finished ninth at the national meet in her last performance as a Hokie.
Joining Callan as athletes who recently completed their eligibility at Tech include Justin Clickett and Sherlenia Green. Clickett (Union City, Pa.) will compete in the shot put, while Green (Vernon Hills, Ill.) will join Harrison in the 400- and 100-meter hurdle events.
Former Hokie pole vaulter and current volunteer Tech coach Brian Mondschein will compete in the men's pole vault trials as well.
Below is a schedule of the events that the Hokies will be competing in. All times are Pacific. Visit http://www.usatf.org/events/2008/OlympicTrials-TF/schedule.asp for a full event schedule and links to results as they become available.
Men's pole vault (prelim) - Brian Mondschein - 6/27 - 5:50 p.m.
-Final - 6/29 - 2:40 p.m.
Women's 400m hurdles (prelim) - Sherlenia Green, Queen Harrison - 6/27 - 6:30 p.m.
-Semifinal - 6/28 - 4:10 p.m.
-Final - 6/29 - 4:02 p.m.
Men's shot put (prelim) - Justin Clickett - 6/27 - 9:00 p.m.
-Final - 6/28 - 4:40 p.m.
Women's 5000m (prelim) - Tasmin Fanning - 6/30 - 8:50 p.m.
-Final - 7/4 - 8:55 p.m.
Women's hammer throw (prelim) - Kristen Callan, Brittany Pryor - 7/3 - 7:00 p.m.
-Final - 7/5 - 1:10 p.m.
Women's 1500m (prelim) - Tasmin Fanning - 7/3 - 7:30 p.m.
-Semifinal - 7/4 - 8:25 p.m.
-Final - 7/6 - 4:05 p.m.
Women's 100m hurdles (prelim) - Kristi Castlin, Sherlenia Green, Queen Harrison - 7/5 - 11:00 a.m.
-Semifinal - 7/5 - 1:15 p.m.
-Final - 7/6 - 5:40 p.m.