Olympic Trials: Day 2

Some of the highlights from an electric Day 2 at the 2008 U.S. Olympic Track & Field Trials...

• Tyson Gay sure knows how to come up with a make good performance. The reigning world champion pulled up short of the finish line in his preliminary heat of the men's 100 meters. Gay, who told reporters after the race that he mistook the 800-meter waterfall line for the finish, gave up an easy win for a fourth place finish, nearly aceing himself out of advancing.

It didn't take long for Gay to make everyone forget that. In his quarterfinal heat, Gay left nothing to chance as he led from start to finish and set an American Record in the event at 9.77 seconds. The sprint was just .05 seconds shy of the world record of 9.72 seconds, set earlier this year by Jamaica's Usain Bolt.

The sweltering weather cooperated to make the 100 exciting. Including Gay, a total of sixrunners went under 10 seconds. Travis Padgett won the second heat in a time of 9.89 seconds, one of the fastest ever by a collegian, followed by Rodney Martin (9.95) and Mark Jelks (9.99). Darvis Patton won the third heat in 9.89 seconds, followed by Ivory Williams (9.94).

Not to be outdone, Jeremy Demps established himself firmly as an up-and-coming talent. Demps, a senior out of Florida, ran 10.01 seconds, establishing a new American prep record and a world juniors record. In addition to his track prowess, Demps has signed a letter of intent with Florida to play football. My guess is that he ends up on the track team too.

• Relative unknown Muna Lee came from behind to win the women's 100 meter final, outdueling a star-studded field. Lee finished in 10.85 seconds, surging past reigning U.S. champion Torri Edwards, who was second in 10.90 seconds. Edwards held a close lead through the first 85 meters of the race, Lauryn Williams was third in 10.90 seconds to wrap the Olmypic team. Allyson Felix, the reigning 200-meter champion, was a non factor as she placed fifth in 10.96 seconds.

• Pat Tyson, in his day 1 wrap-up for The Oregonian's Web site, said the crowd cheering Andrew Wheating to victory in his 800-meter quarterfinal heat Friday was reminescent of the crowds that cheered Steve Prefontaine.

That may be nothing compared to what they may hear on Monday night.

Wheating, the Oregon standout, gave the Hayward crowd another exciting finish in the semifinals Saturday, suring from sixth place with 300 meters to go to finishing second with a time of 1:46.23. It is the second time in as many days that Wheating has pulled his now patented come-from-behind kick to make himself a factor.

Not to be outdone, former Willamette athlete and Oregon Track Club standout Nick Symmonds pulled one of those off himself. Sitting in fifth with 150 meters to go, Symmonds kicked and passed the field in lane one, going from being boxed in to winning the heat with a time of 1:45.61. Symmonds outkicked USC standout Duane Solomon (1:45.82) to enter with the final's best seed time. The men's 800 final takes place under the lights Monday night at 8:25 p.m.

• Those involved in the train wreck in the women's 800 meters will get a do-over in the finals. In the first heat of the semifinals, four athletes tripped and fell to the ground just past the 200-meter mark, including Oregon Track Club favorite Nicole Teter. After a protest was filed, it was determined that all four athletes, Teter, Becky Horn, Latavia Thomas and Kameisha Bennett, will also run in Monday's final. Despite the collision, teter still came close to coming all of the way back. She finished fifth in 2:10.76. Fourth place Laura Hermanson finished in 2:05.78.

• The show that is the men's shot put surely lived up to it's hype, with the competition coming right down to the sixth and final round. In the end, though, it was the expected result. Reese Hoffa, with the title already in hand, saved his best for last, ending the competition with a mark of 72 feet, 6.25 inches. The effort was just nine centimeters off of the Hayward Field record. Christian Cantwell also surpassed 70 feet, finishing second at 71 feet, 2.75 inches. Adam Nelson, a crowd favorite, used the Hayward mystique to will his way into the third and final Olympic spot with a mark of 68 feet, 6.5 inches. Would not be surprised to see those three out for beers together somewhere in Eugene tonight.

INSPIRATION SENSATION: Laura Roesler sure looked out of place when she stepped on the track for the semifinals of the women's 800 meters. The North Dakota native sported a pink singlet that stood out from the standard Nike and Adidas gear that adorned much of her competition. And the dual pigtail braids certainly are not the style you would expect from a world-class runner.

We'll give Roseler a pass. She is only in 10th grade afterall.

Roseler, who recently finished her sophomore year in Fargo, N.D., earned her way into the semifinals by placing fourth in her heat on Friday, bettering six others in her section well into their college years.

Perhaps the stress of having a chance for the Olympic team caught up to her Saturday. Roesler finished eighth in her semifinal heat, seeing her meet end in a time of 2:06.82. She was last in the day's fastest heat and had the 12th fastest time in the semifinals.

I have to admire this young woman for having the guts to take on the world's best women. She certainly gained the admiration of the Hayward crowd, who does often root for the underdog.

As for the singlet, Roesner told the Los Angeles Times in a story on Friday that she bought it at Target. It was all she had. My guess is that will change soon.

WEATHER REPORT: The high unofficially reached 94 at Hayward Field, but some high clouds and a nice breeze cooled things off for the latter part of the festivities.

WHAT TO WATCH ON SUNDAY: All eyes will be on the men's 100 meters, with semifinals at 2:30 and the finals at 4:49. I am sure a lot of people will be looking for a world record from Tyson Gay. Brad Walker will try to better his last performance at Hayward in the men's pole vault final. He set a new American record in the Prefontaine Classic earlier this month. Jeremy Wariner will make his first appearance in the quarterfinals of the 400 meters. There will also be finals in the women's triple jump, men's & women's 400-meter hurdles, women's discus and the men's long jump. The first five events of the decathlon also takes place on Sunday.