June 21, 2012

U.S. Olympic Team Trials Website

OXFORD, Miss. – Eight current and former Ole Miss Rebels will be among the top American track and field athletes to congregate in Eugene, Ore., over the next 11 days for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials.

Returning to one of the most hallowed sites in the sport, the trials will be held at Hayward Field, site of the '72, '76, '80 and '08 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 2012 Olympic Games in London. Competition runs Thursday, June 21 – Sunday, July 1.

Current Rebels who will be competing for a spot on Team USA are senior Carson Blanks (400-meter hurdles) and juniors Mike Granger (100 meters), Ricky Robertson (high jump) and Isiah Young (100 and 200 meters).

Highlighting the former Rebels who will be at the trials is four-time world long jump champion Brittney Reese, a 2008 Olympian who is the favorite to win gold in 2012. Other former Rebels in Eugene will include Antwon Hicks (110-meter hurdles), Colin Moleton (javelin) and Lee Moore (400-meter hurdles).

Among current Rebels, Blanks, Granger and Robertson have all competed at the USA Championships in previous years, while Young will make his first appearance. Robertson was fourth in the high jump last year, just barely missing a chance to represent his country at the World Championships.

Reese has been the world’s premier women’s long jumper for the past four years, capturing four straight world titles (2009 and 2011 outdoor, 2010 and 2012 indoor) and taking gold at the USA Outdoor Championships in each of the last four years. She is the American record holder in the indoor long jump. Only Jackie Joyner-Kersee and Marion Jones have jumped farther in American history outdoors.

Granger and Young will be the first of the current Rebels in action this Saturday, June 23, in the 100 meter qualifying (6 p.m. CT). Robertson will take part in high jump qualifying at 6:20 p.m. on Saturday. A full list of qualifying rounds and potential semifinal and final rounds with Rebel athletes is below.

The largest national championship track meet in the world, the U.S. Olympic Trials hosts more than 1,000 athletes as they compete for the right to represent Team USA at the Olympic Games. With the country’s dominance in the track and field over the years, there are some events in which the U.S. Trials can be even more competitive than the Olympic Games themselves.

The meet will be broadcast live on NBC on Saturday, June 23 (7-8 p.m. CT), Sunday, June 24 (6-7 p.m. CT), Saturday, June 30 (8-9 p.m. CT) and Sunday, July 1 (6-7 p.m. CT). Other days will be shown on the NBC Sports Network (June 22, 25, 28, 29).

Ole Miss Athletes At U.S. Olympic Team Trials

Sat, 6/23 – Men’s Javelin Qualifying – 2:30 p.m. (Moleton)
Sat, 6/23 – Men’s 100m Qualifying – 6:00 p.m. (Granger, Young)
Sat, 6/23 – Men’s High Jump Qualifying – 6:20 p.m. (Robertson)
Sun, 6/24 – Men’s 100m Semi – 4:30 p.m.
Sun, 6/24 – Men’s 100m Final – 6:48 p.m.
Mon, 6/25 – Men’s High Jump Final – 7:50 p.m.
Mon, 6/25 – Men’s Javelin Final – 8:00 p.m.
Thu, 6/28 – Men’s 400mH Qualifying – 8:00 p.m. (Blanks, Moore)
Fri, 6/29 – Men’s 200m Qualifying – 3:45 p.m. (Young)
Fri, 6/29 – Women’s Long Jump Qualifying – 5:30 p.m. (Reese)
Fri, 6/29 – Men’s 400mH Semi – 5:35 p.m.
Fri, 6/29 – Men’s 110mH Qualifying – 6:05 p.m. (Hicks)
Sat, 6/30 – Men’s 110mH Semi – 6:20 p.m.
Sat, 6/30 – Men’s 200m Semi – 8:00 p.m.
Sat, 6/30 – Men’s 110mH Final – 8:40 p.m.
Sun, 7/1 – Women’s Long Jump Final – 5:00 p.m.
Sun, 7/1 – Men’s 400mH Final – 6:12 p.m.
Sun, 7/1 – Men’s 200m Final – 6:50 p.m.

(All times Central)