July 6, 2008

Yesterday: Tyson Gay pulled up in the 200 quarterfinals with what his agent called a hamstring cramp, meaning he won't run the 200 at the Olympics (he's still on the team in the 100). Jesse Williams won the high jump at 7 feet, 6½ inches. Michelle Carter won the women's shot put at 61-10½. Her father, Michael Carter, is a former NFL defensive lineman and a shot put silver medalist at the 1984 Olympics. Jessica Cosby won the women's hammer throw, Anthony Famiglietti won the 3,000 steeplechase and Kevin Eastler won the 20K race walk in 1:27.07.10.

Today: The meet concludes with a flurry of finals stuffed in a 2½-hour window for television. The final event is the men's 1,500, which should be a fascinating duel involving Bernard Lagat, Alan Webb, Lopez Lomong, Leo Manzano, Gabe Jennings and Monte Vista High alum Jon Rankin. The women's pole vault final has four locally based athletes: Tracy O'Hara, Erin Asay, Mary Vincent and Stacy Dragila. Olympic Training Center athletes Jarred Rome, Ian Waltz and James Dennis go in the discus.

TV: 7 p.m., Channel 7/39

Online: A live blog by Ken Stone at uniontrib.com/more/tracktrials
LOCAL WATCH

Chula Vista resident Jamie Nieto tied for second in the high jump at 7 feet, 5¼ inches, but he doesn't make the team because he fell 1¼ inches short of achieving the Olympic “A” standard. Tora Harris (OTC), who made the team in 2004, finished ninth at 7-2¼  . .

Mt. Carmel High alum Ben Bruce finished 12th in the 3,000 steeplechase final in 8:52.40. Steve Slattery (OTC), among the favorites to make the team, did not finish after encountering a lower leg problem . . . Bashir Ramzy (OTC) was seventh in his 110 hurdles quarterfinal heat in 13.71 seconds and was eliminated  . .

None of the crew of local-based race walkers made the team in the 20K walk: John Nunn was fourth (1:30:34.90), Tim Seaman fifth (1:31:34.50), Philip Dunn eighth (1:33.51.40) and Michael Tarantino 11th (1:38.01.70).

– MARK ZEIGLER

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