Kampf, Januszewski Eye Olympic Trials 800m

They raced for rival high schools in Dakota County.  They competed for rival universities in the Midwest.  Now, 800-meter runners Heather Kampf and Laura Januszewski will race for a shared goal:  a berth at the London Olympic Games.

Kampf, the Rosemount High School and University of Minnesota alumnus who competed then as Heather Dorniden, and Januszewski, the former Laura Hermanson of Burnsville High School and North Dakota State fame, will be the first two Minnesotans to step on the Hayward Field track in Eugene, Oregon later this week at the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials.

The opening rounds of the 800m take place Friday night, where both half-milers hope to start a journey through the meet that will lead them to the event's final on Monday, June 25th ... and, ultimately, the Olympic Games.

The pair shared their thoughts about the Trials and their Olympic dreams in separate articles recently.  There's a GopherSports Q-and-A with Kampf HERE.  There's a Fargo Forum feature on Januszewski HERE.

Kampf says she's eager for the Gopher track reunion the Trials will offer -- she, 1500-meter runner Gabriele Anderson, steepelchaser Jamie Cheever, and discus thrower Liz Podomonick are all slated to compete in Eugene.

(Read a GopherSports Q-and-A with Podomonick HERE.)

Januszewski reveals that her professional racing career will end either in Eugene or London.  She and her husband are building a house in Pelican Rapids and she's taken a teaching job in Breckenridge for next fall.

The Olympic Trials open Thursday in Beaverton, Oregon with the men's and women's hammer throw competitions, to be held at Nike World Headquarters.  Action at Hayward Field begins Friday and runs through Monday, June 25 before resuming again on Thursday June 28 and concluding on Sunday, July 1.

Find lots of Olympic Trials details -- including entry lists, schedules, and feature stories -- HERE, at the official Trials web-site.

Down the Backstretch at the Olympic Trials

DtB will be on the scene in Eugene for the Olympic Trials! 

We'll post Twitter and Facebook updates while the action is on-going and have full recaps of each day's events the following morning.  (We're also planning some bonus Yes/No questions during the meet, so our fantasy players can more thoroughly enjoy the meet!)

Look for coverage on our social media outlets beginning on Friday and wrap-ups starting Saturday morning.  Follow all the Minnesotans in the meet with DtB!