Wash Oly Track-web

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WASHINGTON TRACK & FIELD ATHLETES AT

THE OLYMPICS IN BEIJING 2008, Paul Merca for paulmerca.blogspot.com

ANSON HENRYCanada

100 meters/4 x 100 meter relay

Washington ties: Attended Washington State University

PERSONAL BEST: 10.12, Doha, Qatar 2006

THIS SEASON: 10.23 in Provo, Utah

Henry earned his spot on Team Canada by finishing third in their Olympic Trials, running 10.27. Last year, Henry

advanced to the semis at the world championships in Osaka, running a season best of 10.20 in both the quarterfinals,

and the semis.

Hes been a key component on Canadas 4 x 100 meter relay team, running the second leg. Henry ran the second leg in

Luzern, Switzerland, helping his squad to a 38.72 victory.

TRACKING ANSON

15 August @ 9:45 am (6:45 pm 14 August in Seattle):

First round100m

Time:_____

15 August @ 7:45 pm (4:45 am 15 August in Seattle):

Second round100m

Time:_____

16 August @ 8:05 PM (5:05 am 16 August in Seattle):

Semifinals100m

Time:_____

16 August @ 10:30 PM (7:30 am 16 August in

Seattle):

Finals100m

Time:_____


Semifinals4 x 100 meter relay

Time:_____

22 August @ 10:10 PM (7:10 am 22 August in

Seattle):

Semifinals4 x 100 meter relay

Time:_____

MART ISRAEL

Estonia

Discus

Washington ties: Attended University of Washington

PERSONAL BEST: 218-4, 2007 in Helsingborg, Sweden

THIS SEASON: 213-4 in Salinas, California

Mart, who competed for the Huskies in two meets in 2007 before being declared ineligible due to credits transferring

from Tallinn University of Technology in Estonia, was selected by his countrys federation, based on his consistency

this season.

He enters the Olympics with a personal best of 218-4, set in Sweden last year, and a season best of 213-4, set in May at

the Salinas throwers meet in California. He elected to go home to Estonia, and train with a group of throwers thatinclude the reigning world discus champion Gerd Kanter.

TRACKING MART

16 August @ 10:40 am (7:40 pm 15 August in

Seattle):

Qualifying rounddiscus

Mark:_____


Finalsdiscus

Mark:_____


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BERNARD LAGAT

United States

1500 meters/5000 meters


PERSONAL BESTS: 1,500m - 3:26.34 (2001); 5,000m - 12:59.22 (2006)

THIS SEASON: 1500m-3:35.14 in Carson, California; 5000m-13:16.19 in Palo Alto, California

Lagat won both the 1500 and the 5000 at the US Olympic Trials in Eugene, and enters the Olympics as a solid favorite

to medal in both events. Lagat won both the 1500 and the 5000 at last years world championships in Osaka. Enters

the Olympics having only lost once this season at either 1500 or the mile, and is undefeated in the 5000 in finals in

2008.

The Washington State grad, who resides in Tuscon, is looking to complete his set of medals earned in the 1500,

winning bronze in Sydney, and silver in Athens four years ago as a Kenyan citizen. Hell potentially race 14,500

meters over five races in Beijing.

TRACKING BERNARD

15 August @ 7:10 pm (4:10 am August 15 in Seattle):First round1500m

Time:_____


Semifinals1500m Time:_____

19 August @ 10:50 PM (7:50 am 19 August inSeattle):

Finals1500m

Time:_____


Semifinals5000m

Time:_____


Finals5000m

Time:_____

HALEY NEMRA

Marshall Islands

800 meters

Washington ties: Graduated from Marysville-Pilchuck High School

PERSONAL & SEASON BEST: 2:13.83 in Pasco, Washington

Nemra finished fifth in the Washington State 4A 800, running 2:17.30, after running a PR of 2:13.83 in the prelims.

She also finished sixth in the 1600, running 5:00.62, and a leg on Marysville-Pilchuck's 4 x 400 team that finished third

at state. Nemra, whose father was born in the Marshall Islands, became a citizen of that country last year but has never

visited or lived there.

Her best time of 2:13.83 in the 800 is well below the Olympic A or B minimum standard (2:00.0 and 2:01.30,

respectively), but she gained entry through a rule that allows countries with less-established teams to run one male &

one female athlete in the meet. This is the Marshall Islands first appearance at the Games.

TRACKING HALEY

15 August @ 11:10 am (8:10 pm August 14 in

Seattle):

First round800m

Time:_____


Semifinals800m

Time:_____


Finals800m

Time:_____


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KARA PATTERSON

United States

Javelin

Washington ties: Attended Skyview High School (Vancouver)

PERSONAL & SEASON BEST: 202-0 in Champaign, Illinois

Patterson, who will be a senior at Purdue University this fall, won the javelin at the US Olympic Team Trials-Track &

Field in Eugene, Oregon last month, throwing a meet record 191-9. She enters the Olympics with a personal best of

202-0, the second best thrower in US history since the javelin was reconfigured in 1999.

Karas throw of 202-0 was set at the Big 10 championships in Champaign, Illinois in May, and gave her the all-

important Olympic A standard, a mark only exceeded by American record holder Kim Kreiner. Patterson is the first

female Purdue University track & field athlete to qualify for the Olympics.

TRACKING KARA

19 August @ 9:00 AM (6:00 pm 18 August in

Seattle):

Qualifying--javelin

Mark:_____

21 August @ 7:20 pm (4:20 am in Seattle)

Finalsjavelin

Mark:_____

DIANA PICKLER

United States

Heptathlon


PERSONAL & SEASON BEST: 6,257 points in Eugene, Oregon

Diana needed a dramatic last event personal best of 2:16.59 in the climactic 800 meter run to secure her spot on the

Olympic team at the Olympic Trials. At the trials, she also set or tied event personal bests in the 100 hurdles (13.13w),

high jump (6-0 1/2), shot put (38-7 1/2), long jump (20-5 3/4), and javelin (139-1).

Pickler, who finished 25th in the world championships in 2007 with a score of 5838, finished her career with a second

place finish in the USA championships, after finishing 25th in the NCAA championships two weeks earlier, thanks to a

disqualification in the 200 meters for a lane violation. She won the USA indoor pentathlon title in March, scoring 4378

points, and finished third in the Multistars Challenge in Italy, scoring 6190 points.

TRACKING DIANA

15 August @ 9:00 am (6:00 pm 14 August in Seattle):

100 hurdles______ Points_____

High Jump_____ Points_____

Shot Put _____ Points_____

200 meters _____ Points _____

16 August @ 9:50 am (6:50 pm 15 August in Seattle)

Long Jump _____ Points _____

Javelin _____ Points _____

800 meters _____ Points _____

TOTAL SCORE _____


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ARETHA THURMOND

United States

Discus

Washington ties: Attended University of Washington & Renton High School

PERSONAL BEST: 216-1 in Marietta, Georgia, 2004

SEASON BEST: 213-11 in Eugene, Oregon

The 31-year University of Washington graduate earned a spot on her third Olympic team in winning and defending her

Olympic Trials title with a season best of 213-11. Thurmond finished sixth in the 2007 USA championships less than

three weeks after giving birth to son Theo. Thurmond has been among the most consistent American throwers for the

last 10 years, winning four national championships.

Despite her consistency over the last decade, the one blemish on her career has been her failure to advance to the finals

in either Olympic or World Championship competition. To focus on making the 2008 Olympic team, she resigned her

position as executive director of the University of Washingtons Big W club, and commuted to Opelika, Alabama to

train with Auburn University throws coach Jerry Clayton, while husband Reedus stayed in Seattle to coach the throwers

at the UW.

TRACKING ARETHA

15 August @ 7:55 pm (4:55 am in Seattle):Qualifying rounddiscus

Mark:_____

18 August @ 7:00 PM (4:00 am in Seattle):Finalsdiscus

Mark:_____

BRAD WALKER

United States

Pole Vault

Washington ties: Attended University of Washington & University High

School/Spokane

PERSONAL & SEASON BEST: 19-9 3/4 in Eugene, Oregon

Walker, who finished third in the Olympic Trials with a mark of 18-6 1/2, enters the Olympics as the American record

holder, the number one vaulter in the world and the 2007 world outdoor champion. After the Olympic Trials, Walker

won two meetsone in a street vault competition in Karlsruhe, Germany, clearing 19-4 1/4 on July 9th, and the Athens

Grand Prix meet on July 13th, also clearing 19-4 1/4.

During his pro career, the University of Washington business school graduate has been ranked #1 in the world two of

the last three years, won the 2006 world indoor title, and finished second in the 2005 world outdoor championships.

This season, Brad finished second at the world indoors behind Russias Yevgeniy Lukyanenko, who, along with

Australias Steve Hooker, will be his two main contenders for the Olympic title. Walker is one of only three men to

have cleared six meters this season. Feels that six meters is the magic number to win the Olympic title.

TRACKING BRAD


QualifyingPole Vault

Mark: _____


FinalsPole Vault

Mark: _____


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IAN WALTZ

United States

Discus


PERSONAL BEST: 226-1, 2006 in Salinas, California

SEASON BEST: 226-0 in Salinas, California

Waltz continued his U.S. dominance in the mens discus with an emphatic win at the 2008 Olympic Trials, capturing

his third national title and second Olympic team spot. His winning throw at the Trials was a whopping seven feet better

than that of his nearest competitor. Waltz ended the 2007 season ranked #1 in the U.S. by Track & Field News after

finishing as the runner-up at the AT&T USA Outdoor Championships and placing eighth at the World Athletics Final.

In 2005, the former two-time Pacific-10 Conference discus champion finished fifth in the world championships in

Helsinki, Finland, throwing 210-10. This year, Waltz got engaged to 2000 Olympic pole vault champion and former

world record holder Stacy Dragila. The 2000 Washington State grad was a prep standout at Port Falls HS in Idaho,

Waltz earned four track letters and three letters as a fullback and defensive end in football. As a senior he was the state

champion in the shot put and discus. His first name is pronounced Eye-ann.

TRACKING IAN

16 August @ 10:40 am (7:40 pm 15 August inSeattle):

Qualifying rounddiscus

Mark:_____


Finalsdiscus

Mark:_____

DAILY SCHEDULE OF WASHINGTON ATHLETES

COMPETING AT THE OLYMPICS

(All times listed are local Beijing time, which is 15 hours ahead of Seattle, and 12 hours

ahead of Eastern time zone. Schedule courtesy of the IAAF; all times subject to change;

please check www.iaaf.org for updates)

15 August

9:00 amW Heptathlon day 1 100 hurdles (Diana Pickler)

9:45 amM 100 meter heats (Anson Henry)11:10 amW 800 meter heats (Haley Nemra)

7:10 pmM 1500 meter heats (Bernard Lagat)

7:45 pm M 100 meter second round (Anson Henry)7:55 pm (flight 1) or 9:20 pm (flight 2) W discus qualifying (Aretha Thurmond)

16 August

9:50 am W heptathlon day 2 long jump (Diana Pickler)

10:40 am (flight 1) or 12:05p (flight 2) M discus qualifying (Mart Israel, Ian Waltz)

7:30 pm W 800 meter semis (Haley Nemra)

8:05 pm M 100 meter semis (Anson Henry)10:30 pm M 100 meter finals (Anson Henry)


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17 August

9:55 pm M 1500 meter semis (Bernard Lagat)

18 August

7:00 pm W discus finals (Aretha Thurmond)

9:35 pm W 800 meter finals (Haley Nemra)

19 August

9:00 am (flight 1) or 10:30 am (flight 2) W javelin qualifying (Kara Patterson)

9:00 pm M discus finals (Mart Israel, Ian Waltz)

10:50 pm M 1500 meter finals (Bernard Lagat)

20 August

8:15 pm M 5000 meter heats (Bernard Lagat)8:40 pm M pole vault qualifying (Brad Walker)

21 August

7:20 pm W javelin finals (Kara Patterson)

8:20 pm M 4 x 100 meter relay semifinals (Anson Henry)

22 August

7:55 pm M pole vault finals (Brad Walker)10:10 pm M 4 x 100 meter relay finals (Anson Henry)

23 August

8:10 pm M 5000 meter finals (Bernard Lagat)

NOTE: All photos published in this document are 2007-2008 by Paul Merca, with all

worldwide rights reserved. Photo of Haley Nemra in this document is courtesy of the

University of San Francisco Athletic Department.

Special thanks to USA Track & Field, Athletics Canada, Purdue University, University ofWashington, Washington State University, University of San Francisco, Track & Field

News, and the IAAF for assistance with research.

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