EUGENE, Oregon — Erik Kynard won the men’s high jump at the U.S. Olympic Track & Field Trials before he even had a miss.
The 25-year old cleared his first four bars of the day, including his winning height of 7 feet, 6 inches, Sunday evening at Hayward Field. His only misses on the day came when he tried to equal the meet record of 7-8 1/2.
“It was a great competition, and I am moving forward to the Olympics,” Kynard said. “I didn’t miss a bar until I went out, and that makes it difficult to get into it when you have the competition won. At no point in the competition was I in a position where I was being pushed. I had it under control pretty well and was making bars. I feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders after I won.”
Kynard will advance to the Olympics for the second time as he looks to improve on his silver-medal finish from 2012.
“That is definitely there as a motivator,” Kynard said. “But mostly, I am just trying to be the best Erik Kynard that there is.”
Kyle Landon finished second at 7-5, but he has not met the standard to qualify for the Olympics. Third-place finisher Bradley Adkins, who cleared 7-3, is headed to Rio de Janeiro along with sixth-place finisher Ricky Robertson.
Jenn Suhr won her eighth national championship in the women’s pole vault and advanced to the Olympics for the third time. She will look for her second straight gold medal in Rio after earning the silver medal in 2008.
“It doesn’t get any easier, this is a tough team to make,” Suhr said.
Suhr won with a mark of 15-9, while runner-up Sandi Morris cleared 15-7. Alexis Weeks was the only other vaulter to get over 15-3 to earn the third spot in the Olympics.
Jenny Simpson won the women’s 1,500 in 4 minutes, 4.74 seconds after taking the lead just before the final lap.
“My thought when I took the lead was, ‘Never relinquish it’,” Simpson said. “I was saying, ‘Keep the lead, keep the lead.’ If I did not make the Olympic team, three people were going to have to take it from my crazy, gripped hands. That was the strategy to just keep it, and I’m glad I kept it through the finish line.”
Shannon Rowbury was second at 4:05.39, while Brenda Martinez reached the Olympics by placing third in 4:06.16.
Matthew Centrowitz won the men’s 1,500 in 3:34.09, while Robby Andrews was second at 3:34.88. Ben Blankenship earned the final spot in the Olympics at 3:36.18.
Molly Huddle followed up her title in the 10,000 meters by winning the women’s 5,000 in 15:15.01. Shelby Houlihan was second in 15:06.14, while Kim Conley was third in 15:10.62.
Tori Bowie, who placed third in the 100 to reach the Olympics, won the women’s 200 in 22.25 seconds, while Oregon sophomore Deajah Stevens was second in 22.30. Jenna Prandini edged Allyson Felix for the third and final spot at 22.53. Felix finished in 22.54 to miss out on a shot at chasing double gold medals in the 200 and 400.
Dalilah Muhammad won the women’s 400 hurdles in 52.88 seconds, which was the fastest time in the world this year, her personal best by nearly one second and the fifth-fastest time ever by an American.
Ashley Spencer, who placed seventh in the 400, was second in 54.02 while Sydney McLaughlin, a 16-year old New Jersey high schooler, set the world junior record by placing third in 54.15 to earn the final Olympic spot.
Barbara Nwaba won the heptathlon with a score of 6,494. She will be joined on the Olympic team by runner-up Heather Miller-Koch (6,423) and third-place finisher Kendell Williams (6,402).
Kerron Clement won the men’s 400 hurdles in 48.50 seconds, while Byron Robinson was second in 48.79. Michael Tinsley was third in 48.82 to return to the Olympics after winning the silver medal in 2012.
On Saturday, Texas A&M senior Maggie Malone won in the javelin at the U.S. Olympic Track & Field Trials Saturday afternoon with a toss of 199-7 to qualify for the Rio Olympics.
“It was so great coming back to Oregon, I love it here,” said Malone, who won the NCAA title here on June 9. “The facility is amazing and the fans are amazing. This is the most incredible journey. I am so blessed to be here. It is surreal to be here saying I am going to Rio.”
Among the other winners Saturday were Devon Allen in the men’s 110-meter hurdles, Justin Gatlin in the men’s 200 meters and Bernard Lagat in the 5,000 meters.
Malone eventually won but fouled on her first attempt. She then took the lead in the second round with a toss of 197-1 before getting her winning toss off in the fifth round.
“It wasn’t great,” Malone said. “The first throw was my best but I stepped over the line. I have a lot to work on, but I have great coaches to do that. I can focus on the little things that put me higher in the rankings.”
Hannah Carson of Texas Tech was second at 190-11, but has not reached the Olympic standard to go to Rio.
Kara Winger placed third at 189-11 while Brittany Borman was fourth at 185-8, but Borman has reached the Olympic standard to earn the third and final U.S. berth in Rio.
“It was not my best day, but I gave it everything I had and I am happy to make the team,” Borrman said.
Malone was not the only collegian to win a national title as Oregon’s Allen won the 110-meter hurdles on his home track in 13.03. Allen, who is a junior receiver for the Oregon football team, will be late for fall camp because he will be competing in the Olympics.
Ronnie Ash was second in 13.21 while Jeff Porter was third at 13.21.
Gatlin followed up his men’s 100-meter title by winning the 200 in 19.75.
LaShawn Merritt, who won the 400, earned another spot in the Olympics by finishing second in the 200 at 19.79.
“My body feels good,” Merritt said. “Get back to training. I did have three days in between the 400 and 200 but at the Olympics it will be one day. We will see how we adjust training around Rio and handle it at that time.”
Ameer Webb was third at 20.00.
Forty-one-year-old Lagat won the men’s 5,000-meters in 13:35.50 after a strong last lap. Hassan Mead was second at 13:35.70 while Paul Chelimo was third at 13:35.92.
Will Claye won the men’s triple jump with a mark of 57-11 on his fifth attempt to pass Christian Taylor, who was second at 57-0 3/4. Chris Benard was third at 56-5 3/4.