EUGENE, Ore. — Jon Jeffreys, a 2008 Washington State graduate, qualified for the men’s javelin final with his 11th place finish in the qualifying round, and Bernard Lagat advanced to the final of the men’s 1500m Friday night at the USA Olympic Trials at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore.
Jeffreys, from Spokane Valley, Wash., threw the javelin 230-feet, 9 inches (70.34m) for fourth place in the first flight, and 11th place among the 24 competitors. Jeffreys threw his top throw on his first attempt, with tosses of 215-11 (65.82m) and 227-0 (69.21m) on his second and third attempts. Jeffreys’ lifetime-best javelin mark is 237-4 (72.35m), thrown May 3 in the WSU versus Washington Dual Meet in Pullman. Twelve men will compete in the Sunday final.
Lagat, winner in the men’s 5000m race at the Trials June 30, made another step toward qualifying in the men’s 1500m with his Friday semifinal time of 3 minutes, 43.83 seconds, the fastest time in the first heat and the second-best time overall. Former Stanford All-American Gabe Jennings ran the top time in the semifinals of 3:40.07.
In post-event quotes posted on the USA Track & Field website, Lagat said, “It went all right today. I wanted to run strong the last 200 meters and I think I ran the last 300 really hard. Really, I just wanted to conserve enough to run fast and strong at the end. I am always good at the semifinals because that is really the beginning of the finals. I just wanted to run good today and I am glad that I did.”
At the Olympic Trials competition Saturday, July 5, WSU alumni Dominique Arnold will run in the men’s 110m hurdles qualifying and quarterfinal rounds.
