US Olympic Trials 2016: Track and Field Finals Schedule and Predictions

The U.S. Olympic Trials will come to a climax Sunday in Eugene, Oregon, as team members will try to earn spots on the U.S. Olympic team. The final day of competition at Hayward Field will include nine events.

The United States used to assert its dominance in the 400-meter hurdles.

Edwin Moses dominated that event back then, casting a huge shadow over his sport and the Olympics. While the U.S. no longer owns the 400-meter hurdles, it does have some hope for the upcoming Olympics.

One of the primary runners to watch is Michael Tinsley, who picked up a silver medal in the 2012 Olympics.

In addition to Tinsley, Bershawn Jackson was the fastest American in the 400-meter hurdles in 2015. He is 33, though, so it may be difficult for him to show off his speed this year. Jeshua Anderson, 27, represents the young blood in this event for the United States and is going to have to demonstrate his power and speed if he is going to make it to Brazil.

Event	Time (ET)
Heptathalon, Long Jump	4 p.m.
Heptathalon, Javelin Throw	5 p.m.
Women's Pole Vault	5:30 p.m.
Men's High Jump	6 p.m.
Women's 400M Hurdles	7:03 p.m.
Heptathalon, 800M	7:11 p.m.
Women's 5,000M	7:28 p.m.
Men's 400M Hurdles	7 :51 p.m.
Women's 1,500M	8 p.m.
Women's 200M	8:11 p.m.
Men's 1,500M	8:20 p.m.

The high jump should be scintillating, as 14 leapers have eclipsed the opening height of 7'0 ¼". One of those jumpers is Erik Kynard Jr., who picked up a silver medal in the event in the 2012 Olympics.

Justin Frick is also back at the Olympic trials, having made the qualifying height despite the rainy conditions that impacted all jumpers.

“I wasn’t at my best,” Frick told Elliott Denman of the Asbury Park (N.J.) Press. “But nobody else was, either. We all had to deal with the same conditions.

“We all had to deal with the way it was. Now, Sunday’s going to be very interesting.”

The women's 200-meter final should turn out to be a spectacular event, featuring three Oregon Ducks in Jenna Prandini, Ariana Washington and Deajah Stevens. Those three all came through with excellent qualifying efforts on Saturday, along with Gabrielle Thomas of Harvard. 

Prandini had a qualifying time of 22.68, getting off to a great start in the first 100 meters and cruising home. Washington nearly caught her in the second half of the race. Stevens blew away the field in her heat, and Thomas was also impressive. The Crimson freshman ran a smooth race and qualified with a time of 22.72.

Tori Bowie may be the runner to beat in the event after she ran a 22.27 during her heat. Allyson Felix also qualified, but she is not yet in top form, as an ankle injury has prevented her from doing all of her speed work.

Felix is better known for her ability in the 400-meter, but she has a chance to qualify in the 200-meter if she can get off to a good start.

The men's 1,500-meter race will be the last event of the Olympic qualifying. The qualifiers for the race include Ben Blankenship, Matt Centrowitz, Leonel Manzano, Robby Andrews and Craig Engels.

Engels is a versatile talent who has qualified for the finals in both the 800-meter and the 1,500-meter. He is the first competitor to reach the finals in both events since Lopez Lomong did it in 2008.

Key Predictions

Look for Tinsley to come up with a big effort and emerge as the top qualifier for the U.S. Olympic team in the 400-meter hurdles.

Kynard should be the top qualifier in the high jump and therefore make the team.

Nobody ran faster than Bowie in the women's 200-meter, and she should be the top qualifier in that event. 

Blankenship is the favorite to earn a spot as the top qualifier in the 1,500-meter. He should win that race Sunday.