Olympic Track and Field Trials 2012: The Weakest Events for Team USA in London

For as strong as Team USA is, there are also some rather weak events in track and field heading into the London Games.

The javelin throw, for one, is particularly weak as the top two qualifiers on the men's side were deemed ineligible. According to the Associated Press via ESPN last week:

"

Sam Humphreys won the javelin at the U.S. track trials on Monday with a throw of 268 feet, 7 inches, but he doesn't make the Olympic team because he doesn't have the required "A" standard.

Runner-up Sam Crouser, with a throw of 265-01, also failed to make the team because he hadn't thrown the standard of 269 feet this season.

"

So along with the javelin, let's see where else Team USA needs to improve between now and the opening ceremony.

Complete U.S. Olympic Track and Field trials results courtesy of USATF.org.

2008 Olympic Games results courtesy of IAAF.org.

800-Meter Run

Men

Nicholas Symmonds leads the way by finishing the 800-meter run with a time of 1 minute, 43.92 seconds at the trials.

And although this was Symmonds' second straight Olympic trials title, he failed to make the finals at the 2008 Beijing Games. Now the Olympic experience certainly plays to his favor, but Symmonds still must prove himself on the big stage.

Women

Winning the U.S. Olympic Track Trials in the 800 was Alysia Montano, who ran the race in 1:59.08. Compared to the 2008 Games, Montano would have taken eighth place in Beijing. The good news is that 2008 Olympian Alice Schmidt made the team once again, so the two can push one another between now and London.

The question is how much each will improve between now and the Games. Because if the women's 800 is anything like 2008, the U.S. will get ousted before the finals.

Hammer Throw

Men

Kibwe Johnson won the men's hammer throw with a toss of 245 feet, 11 inches. Coming in second was Chris Calle; however, he was unfortunately eligible according to Jeff Matarese of the Oregon Daily Emerald:

"

Chris Cralle came out of the blue to get second — though he did not reach the Olympic “A” standard in the competition window to become eligible for the London games.

"

And if we look back at the 2008 Games, Johnson didn't even hit that A standard of 257'7" at the 2012 trials. Now he did go above 260 feet back in 2011, but the result of the U.S. Olympic Trials doesn't look too impressive heading into London.

Women

On the bright side, two of the women's qualifiers were Olympians in 2008. Amanda Campbell (first place) and Jessica Campbell (third place) hit marks of 235 feet, 6 inches and 232 feet, 2 inches respectively.

Their Olympic experience will certainly play into having a stronger performance in London, but each remain a few steps back as potential medalists. Campbell's winning toss, by comparison, would have been good enough for sixth in Beijing.

And despite their improvements, we also have to anticipate the improvements of their competition as well.

10,000-Meter Run

Men

Galen Rupp returns to the Summer Olympics after having won the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials with a time of 27 minutes, 25.33 seconds in the 10,000-meter run.

He won the race by over eight seconds and has improved since the 2008 Games. Unfortunately, Rupp still has a lot of work to do if he wants to be a medalist. Finishing in 13th place in Beijing, Rupp had a time of 27:36.99 and was over 30 seconds out of third place.

Unless he makes drastic improvements before London, Rupp will have a tough time racing for a medal in 2012.

Women

The second- and third-place finishers in the women's 10,000 meters at the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials are not competing in this event at the Summer Games.

In an article by Pat Graham of the Associated Press via the Rome News-Tribune, Natosha Rogers is ineligible and Shalane Flanagan is focusing on one event:

"

Because Rogers doesn't have the "A'' standard, she's not eligible to go to the Olympics.

Shalane Flanagan finished in third place. But since Flanagan plans to run in the marathon at the London Games, she will gladly surrender her spot in the 10,000 to fourth-place finisher, Lisa Uhl.

"

This leaves Amy Hastings to lead as she won with a time of 31 minutes, 58.36 seconds. That time would have been good for only 20th place in Beijing. So, along with Hastings the U.S. has their fourth- and seventh-placers from the trials competing in London for the women's 10,000-meter run.

If they weren't the underdogs before, they are now.

Javelin Throw

Men

As mentioned in the introduction, the top two finishers at the trials for the men's javelin throw won't be going to London.

Well, that simply puts Team USA at an even tougher disadvantage for London. The winning throw then turned out to be 262 feet, 2 inches by Craig Kinsley. Yes, that may be good enough to qualify for the finals, but in 2008 that only amounted to 12th place.

Let's hope the three qualifiers can push one another before the Summer Games; this way a stronger performance will be in the making.

Women

Taking first place for the women's javelin throw was Brittany Borman with a throw of 201 feet, 9 inches. Certainly not overly impressive, but Borman did at least save the best throw for last at the trials. Provided she keeps getting better, Borman has an outside shot at making the finals in London.

Elsewhere, we see Kara Patterson returning to the Summer Games as she took second with a throw of 196'2". For her sake, let's hope a stronger Olympic result happens this time around. As for third place, Kimberley Hamilton took it with a toss of 190'5", but unfortunately she's ineligible for the Games.

According to Gary Horowitz of the Statesman Journal:

"

because she [Rachel Yurkovich] had the "A" standard entering the Olympic Trials and third-place finisher Kimberley Hamilton does not, its Yurkovich who will be on the U.S. team in London.

"

To that end, this just means more difficult obstacles for Team USA to overcome in London.

Men's Discus

Far from the meet and American record, the winning throw in the men's discus at the 2012 U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials was just 213 feet, 9 inches by Lance Brooks.

Second place went to Jarrod Rome, whose throw was significantly shorter at 207'10"; Jason Young closed out the top three at 203'11".

One other area of concern are the number of fouls that occurred. Young may have fouled just once, but Brooks fouled twice and Rome three times.

In the Olympics, missing those opportunities will greatly cost each thrower against the world's best, so getting more consistency there is needed. Each athlete only gets three tosses during the qualification round of the Olympics.

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