Myers Takes Third in 1,500 Meters at U.S. Olympic Trials – Ohio State Buckeyes
7/18/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Track & Field
July 18, 2004
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The final day of the 2004 U.S. Olympic Trials – Track and Field at Alex G. Spanos Track Stadium in Sacramento, Calif. featured a pair of 2004 Ohio State seniors in the finals and semifinals in the men’s events. Rob Myers, a 2004 All-American and former Big Ten champion, placed third in the 1,500-meter run, but fell short of a bid to the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece because he has not reached the Olympic A or B standard in the event. Earlier in the day, Three-time All-American and former Buckeye Joel Brown competed in the semifinals of the men’s 110-meter hurdles event. Brown clocked a time of 13.39 to place fifth in Heat No. 2, narrowly missing a Top 8 time and a place in the final later Sunday evening.
Myers, who topped his career-best time of 3:39.96 by more than second in the finals Sunday at 3:38.93, emerged from the middle of the pack on the final lap and raced to his third-place finish with a strong kick down the back stretch. Alan Webb of Team Nike paced the field with a winning time 3:36.13 as he gained a berth on the U.S. team.
“When Alan (Webb) made his move,” Myers said at the post-race press conference. “I tried to keep as much contact as I possibly could. At 400 meters, I went as hard as I could to try and catch him and it got me to third, so I’m happy with that.”
Another Nike runner Charlie Gruber, who has an Olympic B standard, placed second at 3:38.45 and has until Aug. 9 to reach the A standard to compete in Athens. Jason Lunn, also of Nike, and Nathan Robinson, an unattached competitor, also will be submitted for the U.S. team, dependent on reaching the A standard. The Olympic A standard in the 1,500 meters is 3:36.20; the B standard is 3:38.00.
Brown, running in lane No. 2, approached a career-best with the 13.39, but fell just behind Aubrey Herring of Team Nike for the eighth and last position in the final. Terrence Trammel of Mizuno placed first in a mark of 13.14 with former Olympic Gold medallist Allen Johnson taking second at 13.17. Overall, Ohio State sent six members of its 2004 squad and a pair of former Buckeye track student-athletes to the trials. Of the eight with Ohio State ties, five advanced to the final of their respective events. Leading the way was Buckeye cross country head coach Robert Gary, who took third in the final of the men’s steeplechase to become the fifth in Ohio State history to qualify for two U.S. Olympic teams. Gary was a member of the 1996 U.S. steeple squad.
Junior Amarachi Ukabam moved on to the finals in both the women’s discus and shot put, while fellow throwers Keturah Lofton (women’s hammer) and Dan Taylor (men’s shot put) also made the finals. In the jumps, junior Rosalind Goodwin bowed out of competition in the qualifying rounds. On the track, former Buckeye Ian Connor joined Myers in the prelim rounds of the 1,500 meters.
The 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece begin Aug. 13 and continue through Aug. 29. Complete results for the U.S. Olympic Trials may be viewed at www.usatf.org.
1,500m Run – Final 1. Alan Webb Nike 3:36.13 2. Charlie Gruber Nike 3:38.45 3. Rob Myers Unattached 3:38.93 4. Christopher Lukezic Unattached 3:40.05 5. Jason Lunn Nike 3:40.81 6. Nathan Robison Unattached 3:40.99
110m Hurdles – Semifinal 1. Terrence Trammell Mizuno 13.14Q 1.6 2 2. Allen Johnson Nike 13.17Q 0.6 1 3. Duane Ross Nike 13.25Q 0.6 1 4. Arend Watkins Nike 13.27Q 1.6 2 5. Ron Bramlett Nike 13.28Q 0.6 1 6. Mark Crear God Speed 13.31Q 1.6 2 7. Robby Hughes Holyfield Intl. 13.38Q 1.6 2 8. Aubrey Herring Nike 13.41Q 0.6 1 9. Joel Brown Ohio State 13.39 1.6 2 10. Chris Phillips Nike 13.40 1.6 2
