June 17, 2008

With the qualification window ending on June 15, Concordia University junior discus thrower Annie Hess and assistant coach and hammer specialist Mike Milakovic took another step toward competing at the U.S. Track and Field Olympic Trials.

With both competitors in the top 24 in their respective event, Hess and Milakovic made another move towards competing in the U.S. Trials in Eugene, Ore.

“It’s great that two throwers will have a chance to represent our program at the Olympic Trials. Certainly one of our measures of success is to compete beyond the collegiate level,” Concordia assistant track coach Mac Wilkins said. “Making the Trials is a huge goal for Annie as a developing athlete and for Mike in his comeback in the sport.” 

The qualifying round of the women’s discus will be held on the opening day of the Trials with action starting at 7:50 p.m. on June 27. The finals of the event will be held at 3:15 p.m. on June 29. The men’s hammer start on June 30 at 7 p.m. while the finals will be contested at 7 p.m. on July 4.

Television coverage of the Trials will be aired on the NBC and USA networks.

Hess, a two-time defending NAIA national champion in the discus currently holds the eighth best mark in the nation with a throw of 58.69 meters. Suzy Powell-Roos holds the top mark in the event with a 67.67m. Stephanie Brown Trafton has the second spot with a 66.17m while Rebecca Breisch is ranked third at 63.70.

Milakovic won the hammer at the Oregon Throwers Academy Qualifier at George Fox University on June 14 with a 68.26m toss, improving his season best by five feet and moved into No. 24 on the U.S. declared list. 

With a top mark in the country, A.G. Krueger holds nearly a three-meter edge over second-ranked Kibwe Johnson, 76.68m to 75.95m. Kevin McMahon will enter the Trials ranked third with a 75.08m. 

From June 27 through July 6, the U.S. Olympic Team Trials will return to the University of Oregon’s famed Hayward Field, site of the '72, '76 and '80 Olympic Trials. The country's most prestigious pre-Olympic event, the Olympic Trials is where the roster for Team USA will be selected for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.

The U.S. may enter a maximum of three athletes per event/per gender into the Olympic Games, provided they all have met the Olympic "A" qualifying standard for the respective event.

2008 Olympic Games Standards (U.S. athletes who have obtained a qualifying mark)

Women’s Discus:
‘A’ Standard - 61.00m (Suzy Powell-Roos, Stephanie Brown Trafton, Rebecca Breisch, Aretha Thurmond, Cecilia Barnes)

‘B’ Standard – 59.00m (Summer Pierson, Hia Lewis).

Men’s Hammer:
‘A’ Standard – 78.50m (A.G. Krueger)

‘B’ Standard – 74.00m (Kevin McMahan, Travis Nutter, Thomas Freeman, Cory Martin)