Athletes and Coaches Optimistic, Cautious, following U.S. Olympic Trials

U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials End in Oregon

U.S. Olympic coaches Bubba Thornton and Jeanette Bolden still have to name relay teams, but the Olympic trials have finished, promising what may be the strongest ever U.S. athletics team.

“We don’t have a specific projection for how many medals we’ll win. We know we want to stay on top of the medals chart, and it usually takes about twenty to be the best. We think we can achieve that with the team we have,” USA Track and Field spokesperson Jill Geer tells Around the Rings.

The U.S. won 25 medals at the 2004 Games in Athens, but Geer says it will difficult to match that total with the strength of Russia, Kenya and China this year.

Geer says this team has improved in the women’s field, middle and long distance events, while maintaining its usual excellence in the sprints.

Kenyan-born Bernard Lagat was the only person to win two events, clinching his spot in Beijing in the 1500m and the 5000m. Two other foreign-born runners, Lopez Lomong and Leonel Manzano, rounded out the 1500m field ahead of 2004 trials winner Alan Webb.

"It's a testament to kids and to everybody that anything's possible. Look into Lagat's past, Lopez's past, my past. It's a big honor for us to get to come out here and compete for the U.S. and give back to the U.S," Manzano told AP. None of the three men who have qualified for the 1500m event were born in the U.S.

Jenn Stuczynski set an U.S. record in pole vault, clearing nearly 16 feet 2 inches. She should challenge world record-holder Russian Yelena Isinbayeva for gold.

"I'm hoping we go over there and kick some Russian butt," Stuczynski said. "I want to back it up. I hope it fires them up, because we're all fired up. The Russians have a great support system. Yelena has been dominating and we're chasing her,” Stuczynski told the San Francisco Chronicle.

After posting a wind-aided 9.68 and punching his ticket for Beijing in the 100m, Tyson Gay suffered a strained hamstring during the qualifying for the 200m, considered his better race. Both Thornton and Gay insist he will be ready for Beijing. Gay’s failure to qualify in the 200m ends the possibility of a showdown in the event with Jamaican Usain Bolt.

Even with Gay and Webb failing to qualify, both U.S. coaches defended the trials as the way to pick an Olympic team.

"I believe in the system. At the end of the day there will not be a person in this gathering that is going to say they politicked their way on. They made the team. I think that is the beauty of what happens when this special time comes around," Thornton told U.K. media.

U.S. Swimming Trials in Omaha

U.S. phenom Michael Phelps is on course to smash a medals record at the Beijing Olympics, qualifying for eight events at the close of the U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials held in Omaha.

Phelps was one of the swimmers who set nine world records at the trials, raising the prospects for Beijing.

"Hopefully we can be the best men's team ever. It's definitely the fastest team I've ever been on," Phelps said.

Phelps will have the chance to pass Mark Spitz’s 36-year-old record of seven gold medals in swimming at the Games. During the trials, Phelps broke two of his own world records.

Aaron Peirsol also set world records in the 100m and 200m backstroke.

Records were set on the women’s team by Katie Hoff, Natalie Coughlin and Margaret Hoelzer .

Dara Torres qualified for her fifth Olympics at age 41. Though she qualified in the 50m and 100m freestyle, she’ll only compete in the 50m. She said competing in the 50m and possibly two relays would be hard enough on her body.

Though the women’s team looks poised for a good showing in Beijing, coach Jack Bauerle isn’t getting carried away.

"If people think we're favored, we're not," he told USA Today.

Bauerle said Australia is the team to beat in Beijing.

Compiled by Eric Connelly.

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