Crouser wins Olympic Trials in home state

Friday, July 1

Eugene, Ore.

All Day

University of Texas

U.S. Olympic Trials

07.02.2016 | Track & Field / Cross Country

Thrower emerges on pro scene with impressive victory

EUGENE, Ore. – With a spot on Team USA on the line, thrower Ryan Crouser came to win in front of more than 20,000 fans in his home state to open the USATF Olympic Trials with a bang for Texas Track & Field.

Crouser posted a throw of 22.11 meters (72-6.50) on his second throw of the finals on Friday evening as he cemented his spot in the Olympic Games.

"This was really my first big shot put competition. This is the hardest team to make and everybody brought it today," Crouser said. "It was the biggest competition of my life. I'm just happy to make the team and even happy to walk out of here on top."

Texas Head Coach Mario Sategna said it was an impressive performance and one that has been a long time in the making after Crouser closed a stellar collegiate career in March.

"I'm just elated and so happy for his family. They have deep ties here in the state of Oregon. He's had uncles on the Olympic team and his dad was fourth at the Olympic Trials as well," Sategna said. "To see it all come to fruition and not just make the Olympic team but to win the Trials, I just couldn't be happier for him."

Strong showings could be found all over the schedule on the first day of the Olympic Trials for the Longhorns.

Texas Ex Jacob Thormaehlen had a throw of 20.26 meters (66-6.00) in the qualifying round of the shot put to reach the final. During the final, he posted a mark of 19.99 meters (65-7.00) to finish in 10^th place.

Sategna praised Thormaehlen for his storied career at Texas where he won multiple Big 12 titles and earned All-America status. He also gave credit to Thormaehlen for Crouser's win by providing a positive atmosphere in training every day and being there alongside Crouser during the competition today.

"(Ryan doesn't win) this year if Jacob Thormaehlen doesn't come," Sategna said of Thormaehlen's impact on Crouser in training. "He basically gives up his career. They do some great stuff throwing out there together and also in the weight room. I was super-excited for him."

The Longhorns also had a good day on the track.

In the first running event of the day, alumna Kendra Chambers clocked a new personal best time of 2:01.07 in the first heat of the 800 meters. She crossed in third place in her heat and grabbed the first at-large bid to the semifinals. Her time ranked No. 4 in the prelims.

The first round of the men's and women's 400 meters was held on Friday and two Longhorns moved on while another saw her historic career come to a close.

Two-time Olympic gold medalist in the 400 meters Sanya Richards-Ross came into the Olympic Trials after a recent injury during a meet in Atlanta. She pulled up with 150 meters to go in her race and did not finish.

"I think every athlete we're always optimistic so I was hoping to come out here and run really well," she said in a post-race interview with USATF.tv. "But I'm so grateful I can't even complain about my career."

Following her race fans, track stars and many more expressed their love, thanks and support for Richards-Ross on social media.

Winning Richards-Ross' heat was Courtney Okolo. After closing her collegiate career with another NCAA title, she has turned her attention to making Team USA and took the first step on Friday. Okolo won her heat and posted the fastest time of the prelims in 50.78 seconds to advance to Saturday's semifinals.

Also advancing to the semifinals was Okolo's former teammate Ashley Spencer. She clocked in at 51.28 seconds finishing third in her heat and ranking No. 5 in the prelims. Spencer also is attempting to make the Olympic team in the 400 meter hurdles next week.

Finishing 18^th in the women's 400 meters was Kendall Baisden. She turned pro after her sophomore season last year and crossed the line in 52.52 seconds.

For the men, rising senior Aldrich Bailey, Jr. ran well to advance to the semifinals. He finished second in his heat to auto-advance to the semis and posted a time of 45.73 seconds. He ranked No. 8 during the prelims.

One future Longhorn was in action on Friday. Thrower Elena Bruckner was a late addition to the accepted entry list. After she won USATF Junior Championships last week, she was accepted into the Olympic Trials and showed she can hang with the best of the best.

Bruckner finished 16^th during the qualifying round of the women's discus. She registered a throw of 54.64 meters (179-3). She finished one spot ahead of Big 12 runner-up Hannah Carson of Texas Tech and was three feet, eight inches from making the final.

Texas returns to action on Saturday with a host of Longhorns set to compete. Olympic silver medalist Trey Hardee starts the first day of the decathlon at 9:45 a.m. In addition to the athletes who advanced on Friday, Texas will have Reese Watson in the pole vault. He was a late addition to the entry list as well after some athletes scratched or were not accepted into the meet. Marielle Hall will run the 10,000 meters; Morolake Akinosun runs the 100 and Marquise Goodwin will be in the long jump qualifying round.

Fans can keep up with the action online with live results provided at USATF.org. NBC and NBC Sports Network will be providing television coverage as well as online streaming. Updates on the Longhorns can be found on the team's official Twitter account @UTexasTrack.