May 2004 Toledo grad, 2-time AA and defending US National Champion in the 3000 meter steeplechase is running tonight in the Olympic trials in California. The event is suppose to be covered live on USA at 1130 EDT.

She is defending US Champion and finished 2nd in the NCAA championship this year. She should be one of the top 2-3 favorites.

She is noted as a fast starter. Hopefully she can leave the pack in the dusk early on. This will be an exihibition event in the Olymipics this time and a medal event in 2008---but the US Championship is also at stake in this race.

Shook won the race in an American record and came in last, after being disqualified when she missed the first water jump. Today's Blade has a write-up on it, but the site hasn't been updated yet.

I actually watched that race (yeah, I need to get a life, soon!) and Shook absolutely destroyed the field. It was weird how she missed that first water jump though and a really tough break.

EMU's Desilets competed in the men's 3000 meter steeplechase but did not place in the top 3 so he won't be on the Olympics squad.

Still, a great showing by MAC track athletes.

From the MAC web site:

Quote:July 12, 2004

SACRAMENTO - Former Kent State student-athlete Kim Kreiner (Mogadore, Ohio/Mogadore) won the javelin 55.65m (182-7) at the United States Olympic Team Trials Sunday in Sacramento, Calif., and automatically advanced to the 2004 Olympics, which will be held August 13-29 in Athens, Greece.

After entering the final as the top seed, Kreiner wasted no time in jumping out to the front of the pack as she hurled her best throw on her second attempt. The competition wasn't without drama as second-place finisher Sarah Malone turned in the next-closet throw, 54.22m (177-11), on her final attempt.

Kreiner, a 2000 Kent State graduate, also is the United States record holder in the javelin 60.86m (199-8), setting the mark in victorious fashion at last summer's Pan American Games in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.