Fear and Loathing from Eugene, Day 2, June 22, 2024, Stories from the 2024 Olympic Trials, deep thoughts, semi-deep thoughts, kind of deep thoughts, Sha’Carri takes the 100m title!

Well, hello, sports fans.

This is Larry Eder. It is day 5, an off day. I have spent much of the day trying to catch up on stories from our writing team and great photographs from Chuck Aragon and Kevin Morris.

I wanted to provide you with a synopsis of the championships day by day and explain why the Olympic Trials (my eleventh) and the Olympics (my tenth to cover, eighth to attend) are two of my favorite assignments.

This is Fear and Loathing from Eugene, Day 2 (yes, with homage to Hunter S. Thompson)

The second day, a warm Saturday, had a good crowd: about 11,800 paid. Add the coaches, athletes, volunteers, and security folks, and you are probably around 15,000.

That is a pretty darn crowd, considering the challenges for the average fan in getting here: Expensive air travel, hotel chains that want to make crazy money, and restaurants that do not stay open past 9 p.m., no matter what.

Add that up, and the folks who get here, some coming longer than me, are here because they love the Olympic Trials. The locals also have their challenges, and some seem to be staying away.

That is sad, as Tracktown USA organizes this meet well and is doing its best to reign in the hoteliers and restaurants. However, about the only thing that they can control is the event at the House that Phil and Penny built (Phil and Penny Knight and the House-Hayward Field). And the event, and staging is wonderful.

I thought day 1 was pretty awesome, well day 2 rocked! Here is what I saw and experienced (and heard).

1. In the Women’s triple jump, we have a bit of the changing of the guard. Jasmine Moore won the TJ in 14.26 meters or 46 feet, 9.5 inches. Jasmine is getting close to medal contention globally. Keturah Orji took the silver in 14.22 meters or 46 feet, 8 inches, while Tori Franklin took bronze in a subpar, 13.82 meters, 45 feet, one-quarter inch! Orji and Franklin have battled for over a decade, both coming close to medals, as they help bring respect to US women triple jumpers.

2. The Men’s shot put was an incredible event—miraculous! No, hear me out. Larry is not eating Cheech and Chong gummies again!

Ryan Crouser pulled out of the Nike Pre-Classic just a month ago. I asked a friend in the…