2016 US Olympic Track and Field Trials: What to Watch for on Day 9
Spots are filling up quickly for the United States Olympic track and field team, but big names will battle for some of the final available positions in Saturday's competitions.
Day 9 at the trials features the finals for five different events, providing 15 athletes with an opportunity to fulfill their dreams with a trip to Rio. This is among 11 competitions that will take place on the penultimate day of qualifying, with the full schedule available at USATF.org.
The competition can be seen at 8 p.m. ET on NBC, while additional coverage can be seen online at NBC Live Extra beginning at 6:30 p.m. ET.
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Here is everything else you need to know about the upcoming slate of events from Eugene.
Loaded 200-Meter Race
The 100-meter gets the most publicity as everyone battles to own the title "Fastest Man on Earth." However, the most exciting event at these Olympic trials is probably the 200-meter race.
In the eight-man finals field there are short-distance veterans in Justin Gatlin and Tyson Gay, two men who have proven themselves on the world stage at all types of sprints. However, it has actually been the younger athletes who have starred this week in Oregon, as Spikes Magazine notes:
Michael Norman and Noah Lyles are both just 18 years old, yet came out with tons of confidence to each win their semifinal heat and qualify for Saturday's final.
Still, the best time came from LaShawn Merritt, who is an Olympic gold medalist in the 400 and already qualified for Rio in that event. However, he showed he is more than capable of contending in this shorter race, finishing in 19.74 seconds to lead all runners. All of a sudden he has a chance to compete for a double in Rio.
Considering Wallace Spearmon finished fourth in London behind a Jamaican sweep and couldn't even make the finals at these Olympic trials, this will be a tough race to win.
Start of Heptathlon
As dominant as the United States is in most track and field events, the country hasn't been great in the women's heptathlon. The seven-event competition requires a rare combination of speed, strength, explosiveness and plenty of other qualities.
The problem is it's hard to find athletes capable of handling this level of competition.
There are only five women in this field, including 2015 U.S. champion Barbara Nwaba and former Olympian Sharon Day-Monroe. Erica Bougard, Heather Miller-Koch and Kendell Williams round out the field all trying to at least earn a trip to Rio.
The action will kick off with the 100-meter hurdles, followed by the high jump, shot put and finally the 200-meter dash. The competition will end Sunday with the long jump, javelin throw and an 800-meter run that will likely decide it all.
In reality, anyone who finishes this high against this level of competition deserves a lot of credit.
Aries Merritt Overcoming Obstacles
There are a few interesting stories in the men's 110-meter hurdles, including Oregon wide receiver Devon Allen getting off to a good start with an excellent first round run:
Allen finished with the third-best time in the field behind only Ronnie Ash and Jason Richardson. However, the big story going into Saturday is the performance of Aries Merritt.
Merritt is the defending gold medalist at the Olympics as well as the world record-holder, finishing with a 12.8 second run back in 2012. Unfortunately, his career was derailed due to a kidney issue that required a transplant.
The 30-year-old athlete worked his way back to competition, although he hasn't necessarily gotten the "okay" from his doctors.
"They're very, very concerned. They've asked me many, times: 'Have you considered not going?'" Merritt said, according to Pat Graham of the Associated Press. "I'm like, 'Well, that's not an option. If I make it I'm going.'"
No one wants Merritt to risk his health, but as long as he is willing to compete, it's hard not to root for him to make the team.
Allyson Felix Trying to Earn Second Spot on Team
Not only is she already heading to Rio after qualifying in the 400-meter race, Allyson Felix will be one of the most famous American athletes in Brazil.
This is thanks to four career gold medals and two silvers, finishing with a medal in the 200-meter run in three different Olympiads.
She has already earned her fourth appearance, but her best chance to compete will still come in the 200, which is her favorite event:
Felix finished with just the sixth-best time in the qualifying round, trailing Jenna Prandini, Tori Bowie among others. However, there is still the semifinals and finals to go, and these are the areas where the veteran often shines.
Christian Taylor's Continued Dominance in Triple Jump
Although the triple jump might not be the most popular event in athletics at the Olympics, Christian Taylor has made a name for himself with his performances on the big stage.
The 26-year-old athlete took home the gold medal at the 2012 Olympics in this event and is one of the favorites once again after winning the 2015 World Championships. In those championships, he set an American record at 18.21 meters, just shy of the world record of 18.29.
He only needed one jump in the first round to qualify for the finals, although Matthew O'Neal and Donald Scott proved their worth with the top two marks in qualifying. Omar Craddock is another top contender after jumping 16.83 meters in his one jump.
While Taylor should earn his spot on the Olympic team once again, nothing is guaranteed at this level.
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