Day Five of The Trials, Smock wins Triple Jump

Amanda Smock, Olympian.
(Photo by Victor Sailer/PhotoRun.)

Amanda Smock won the women's triple jump with a leap of 45'9"(14.30m) on her first jump. She held her lead throughout the competition to book her place on the Olympic team.

“I started off with a pretty good jump," said Smock. "I was hoping to build off it, but I wasn’t able to. It was close and I was hoping to increase the distance as I went on, but it worked out.

“I was definitely mentally prepared for things to get shaken up at the finals, A standards being achieved and such. I was expecting to jump further, but I’m happy with the performance.

“There’s more to come, and I’m looking forward to the Olympics.” You can read more about Amanda's journey HERE and HERE.

Heather Kampf finished seventh in the women's 800-meter final in 2:02.86.

In the men's high jump, Jim Dilling missed all three attempts at his opening height of 7'.5"(2.15m).

Former Gopher Jamie Cheever qualified for the finals of the women's 3,000 meter steeplechase with a PR of 9:51.42 in the second semi-final heat. Top five in each heat automatically qualified and Cheever was the fastest of those qualifying on time as she was sixth in her heat.

For more on Jamie, check out a pre-race interview on the University of Minnesota site with her HERE.

Hassan Mead and Elliott Heath qualified for the men's 5,000 final. Mead had the fifth fastest time of the qualifiers, placing fifth in the second heat. Heath placed sixth in the first heat to get the last automatic qualifying spot in that heat.

In the men's steeple semis, Justin Tyner, Brainerd High and Air Force Academy grad, failed to qualify for the final. Justin ran 8:53.92 to finish 11th in the second semi heat.

Smock photo by PhotoRun; Cheever photo by Becky Miller