Taylor Claims Spot in Shot Put Finals at U.S. Olympic Trials – Ohio State Buckeyes
7/9/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Track & Field
July 9, 2004
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The first of nine past and present Ohio State track and field athletes competed at the 2004 U.S. Olympic Trials Friday evening at the Alex G. Spanos Track Complex in Sacramento, Calif. Dan Taylor, a two-time national champion and nine-time All-American in his four season as a Buckeye, competed in the qualifying round of the men’s shot put and gained a spot in the finals with a fifth-place performance. Fellow Buckeye Rosalind Goodwin also competed in the preliminary rounds of the women’s triple jump Friday evening.
Taylor, a native of Middlefield, Ohio and a product of Berkshire High School, heaved a throw of 64 feet, 8 inches (64-8/ 19.71 meters) on his second of three attempts to place fifth in the qualifier and earn a spot in the finals Saturday evening. The Top 12 marks in the qualifier moved to the final, which is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. (EDT) Saturday. The Top 3 from the finals Saturday gain a bid to the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team. John Godina, an Olympian in 2000 competing with adidas, took first place in the qualifier, reaching a mark of 70-8.50 (21.55m). Taylor, who is entered as a competitor on Team Nike, has a career-best throw in the shot put of 69-11.75.
Goodwin (Jr., Prospect, Ky./ Ballard), the Big Ten indoor and outdoor champion in the triple jump, took 14th place with a leap of 42-5.25 (12.93m) in the prelims, failing to gain a bid to the finals. Goodwin placed just behind fellow Big Ten competitor Chi Chi Aduba of Penn State, who reached 42-7.50. Vanitta Kinard of adidas topped the prelim field at a measure of 46-2 (14.07m).
Fellow OSU thrower Amarachi Ukabam (Creve Couer, Mo./ Marquette) will join Taylor in the schedule Saturday as the junior-to-be participates in the women’s discus qualifier at 8:10 p.m. (EDT).
NBC will broadcast live and taped events Saturday evening at 8 p.m. For complete U.S. Olympic Trials – Track and Field coverage and results visit www.usatf.org.
U.S. Olympic Trials Men Shot Put Auto Q 20.50 or best 12 after tiebreakers Name Year Team Prelims 1. John Godina Adidas 21.55mq 70-08.50 20.00m 21.55m PASS 2. Adam Nelson Nike 21.44mq 70-04.25 21.44m x x 3. Christian Cantwell Nike 20.91mq 68-07.25 FOUL 20.91m PASS 4. Reese Hoffa New York Ath 20.30mq 66-07.25 20.30m PASS PASS 5. Dan Taylor Nike 19.71mq 64-08.00
