Some Quakers alumni saw their dreams of Olympic glory fall short at last week's U.S. Track and Field Olympic Trials in Eugene, Ore.
Leading the group was 2004 graduate Brian Chaput, an NCAA champion in the javelin throw during his time as a Quaker.
At last week's trials, none of the American javelin throwers obtained the Olympic 'A' standard of 268 feet, 4 inches. Thus, although Chaput achieved the third-best distance at the Trials, he will not be going to Beijing.
Instead, fifth-place finisher Leigh Smith will be joining second-place finisher Mike Hazle in Beijing, as the two of them had achieved the 'A' standard in previous meets.
The situation is all too familiar for Chaput, who finished second overall at the Trials for the 2004 Athens Games, but then, too, his top distance was not enough to qualify for the Olympics.
Also falling short of qualifying for Beijing was Chaput's college teammate, 2003 graduate Sam Burley. Burley was an NCAA Champion in '03 as well, in the 800-meter event.
At the 800m in Eugene, Burley started off strong, putting in the fourth-best time in the preliminary heat. However, he finished tenth in the semifinals, two spots shy of advancing to the final heat.
