U.S. Olympic trials: Swimming, track, gymnastics
June is a big month for determining who will head to Paris games
June is one of the hottest months for Team USA.
With the Paris Olympics on the horizon (July 26-August 11), national trials are being staged for swimming, track and field and gymnastics — all of them will be completed by June 30.
I have a fondness for Olympic trials, and whether or not there are Iowans competing, the trials are a dizzying mix of athletic skills, patriotism and memory-stirring fun.
Lolo Jones, who competed in the Drake Relays this year, will contend in the U.S. Olympic track and field trials in the 100-meter hurdles. (Photo courtesy of Drake Relays.)
*Track and field: Iowa’s biggest imprint on these sports will be in this sport. Our state produces great runners, throwers and jumpers. Competition started Friday and continues until June 30 at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.
After all, would you expect any less from a state that hosts the Drake Relays every April?
Lolo Jones, a Des Moines Roosevelt grad, is 41 years old and will be competing in her third (and possibly final) Olympic track trials.
Jones will be contending in the 100-meter hurdles. I had the chance to cover her in high school and she’s had an amazing career. Jones ran at the Drake Relays this year and received a huge response from fans — they also approved of her induction into the Relays Hall of Fame.
Another one to watch is distance star Karissa Schweizer, who competed for West Des Moines Dowling Catholic. She ran in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, finishing 12th in the 10,000 meters. She’s another runner I was honored to write about when she ran in high school.
Alex Gochenour-Brondyke, a multi-event star at Logan-Magnolia, is competing in the 100 hurdles and the heptathlon. She’s had a long and outstanding career, and is another athlete that stirs memories of her high school days for me.
According to Mike Mahon, one of the state’s best track minds when it comes to knowing who’s who, there are 20 men and 15 women who have Iowa ties that are competing in the track and field trials.
Among the men to watch is former Iowa State runner Hillary Bor. He qualified for the steeplechase in 2016 and is back again.
*Swimming: The men’s and women’s trials are being held at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. They began June 13 and end Sunday.
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