US Olympic Trials Track Schedule 2012: Dates, Events, Schedule and TV Info

The 2012 Summer Olympics in London are about a month away, but there is still plenty to be decided before the opening ceremonies.

Qualifying is taking place across the world, but there may be no more intense and competitive qualifying than the events happening in Eugene, Ore. That is the site of the US Olympic track and field trials.

Hundreds of men and women are and will be competing in 20 different events in an effort to represent their country in London. The United States is considered to be a world power in many of the track and field events, so those who qualify will be shouldering a large burden in terms of having a good showing and ultimately medaling.

Continue reading for all of the information you need to know in order to watch the U.S. Olympic track and field qualifying on NBC and NBC Sports Network over the next several days.

Where: Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore.

When: Thursday, June 21 - Sunday, July 1

Television Schedule (via Tracktown12.com)

Date	Time	Network
Friday, June 22	9-11 p.m. ET	NBCSN
Saturday, June 23	8-9 p.m. ET	NBC
Sunday, June 24	7-8 p.m. ET	NBC
Monday, June 25	9-11 p.m. ET	NBCSN
Thursday, June 28	9-11 p.m. ET	NBCSN
Friday, June 29	6-8 p.m. ET	NBCSN
Saturday, June 30	9-10 p.m. ET	NBC
Sunday, July 1	7-8 p.m. ET	NBC

Events (via Tracktown12.com)

Hammer Throw

100m

200m

400m

800m

1,500m

5,000m

10,000m

100m Hurdles

110m Hurdles

400m Hurdles

3,000m Steeplechase

Long Jump

High Jump

Triple Jump

Discus Throw

Shot Put

Javelin Throw

Pole Vault

20km Race Walk

Event Schedule

Full daily schedule can be found at Tracktown12.com.

Athletes to Watch

Bryan Clay

The United States is threatening to sweep the podium in the men's decathlon at the London Olympics, and leading the charge will undoubtedly be Bryan Clay. He is the reigning champion in the event as he took gold in Beijing in 2008 after winning the silver in Athens back in 2004.

The decathlon may be the most grueling event in the Olympics as it tests a competitor's physical attributes, mental aptitude and overall versatility. Clay is strong in all of those areas, so there is no question that he will qualify and give the United States one of its best chances at gold.

Lolo Jones

Lolo Jones entered the 2008 Beijing Olympics as the favorite to take the gold in the 100-meter hurdles, and she appeared well on her way to doing so, but she hit one of the final hurdles and her Olympic dream ended in disappointment.

Jones has battled her way back by winning gold in the 60-meter hurdles at the World Indoor Championships in 2008 and 2010, and she is once again the 100-meter favorite in London.

Jones seems to have learned from her agonizing defeat four years ago and figures to be more motivated than ever to succeed. Expect Jones to shine in Eugene as she will be out to prove that she is still the United States' gold standard in the event. Perhaps she will then use a strong qualifying performance to help her when she is on the big stage.

Tyson Gay

Tyson Gay may not be the favorite to take home the title of world's fastest man in London as he will have to deal with Jamaican star Usain Bolt, but he is clearly the United States' top contender in both the 100-meter dash and 200-meter dash. Gay is a multi-time champion in each event during international competition, and he is trying to prove that his Beijing failures were a fluke.

Gay entered the 2008 summer games nursing a hamstring injury that clearly limited him and resulted in him failing to register a medal. Gay appears to be healthy now, though, and he has shown flashes of the speed merchant who took the running world by storm in 2006 and 2007. Gay is a shoo-in to qualify for both events at the London Olympics and will throw everything he has at Bolt.

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