Fear and Loathing from Eugene, Day 3 Delivered, June 23, 2024, Exciting Women’s hammer, Record setting Men’s pole vault, Surprising Men’s Steeplechase, Noah Lyles Delivers in the 100 meters!,

Women’s Hammer Throw

The Olympic Trials are full of brutal honesty.

Brooke Anderson, the world leader in 2024 in the hammer throw, had three fouls and will not go to Paris.

Annette Echikuwoke threw 74.68m, or 245 feet, in the hammer throw, which was the massive winning throw!

DeAnna Price, 2019 World Champ, responded to Annette’s big throw with an oh-so-close 74.49m throw, 244 feet, six inches. DeAnna improved into round 3 in 74.52 meters.

Third was Erin Reese, with 71.21m, or 233 feet seven inches. Erin does not have the Olympic qualifier.

Men’s Pole Vault

Sam Kendricks is back. The 2016 Olympic bronze medalist was not allowed to compete in Tokyo in 2021 due to testing positive for COVID. His treatment there, the isolation, has left a scar. There were many stories in the media noting that Sam might not compete in Paris if he made the team, he might not participate.

What changed it for Sam? It was his father, who is also his coach.

Sam Kendricks came into the Trials with a 5.90m clearance and used that and the energy from his pole vault competitors to win. After the competition, Sam told me, “ I will compete in Paris, and this competition was about 15 men in the final. He did not want to go, unless at least one of his fellow competitors from Tokyo would be going to Paris.

His wish came true.

Sam Kendricks is methodical. He made clearances at 5.47m, 5.62m, 5.72m, 5.82m, 5.87m, all on first attempts. It took two attempts at 5.92m, to guarantee his win.

Chris Nielsen had a challenging series, clearing 5.47m, on first attempts, but clearing 5.62m, 5.72m on second and then, first attempts at 5.82m and 5.87. He had three misses at 5.92m.

The newbie, Jacob Wooten, praised by Sam and Chris, had two attempts at 5.47m, two at 5.72m, and cleared 5.82m and 5.87m on first attempts.

I caught up with Sam Kendricks after his event and will post his video. Sam is very happy to be going to Paris. He still has some tough issues with Tokyo, but his Dad, his family, his friends, and the Trials all helped him get through it.

Men’s Javelin

The Javelin is one of the most ancient of our sport events. Javelins are made with 3 pieces of metal, and the event traditions are fun to explore.

Curtis Thompson, our best thrower,…