Marks, Thieschafer in PR Form for Trials

With women's triple jump prelims set to get underway on Friday at the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trails in Eugene, Oregon, Minnesotans Shani Marks and Amanda Thieschafer find themselves in good position to contend for the Olympic team.

Two weekends ago, in their final competition before the Trials, the training partners bounced to PRs at the Olympic Training Center Last Chance Meet in Chula Vista, California. Marks jumped 46-11 to put herself atop the 2008 U.S. List in the event. Thieschafer hopped, stepped, and jumped 45-5 for her new career best. She's currently ranked #4 in the U.S. this year.

If you want to know more about Marks and Thieschafer, you're in luck, The USA Track and Field -- Minnesota web-site has just published a feature story I wrote on the pair HERE. Also, the Star-Tribune's Rachel Blount has written THIS top-of-the-A-Section feature on Marks.

If you read both stories, you'll see that Blount and I were both taken by the same training game Marks and Thieschafer play against one-another.