Six locals set to compete at US Olympic Track Trials on Friday

Posted: Jun 21, 2012 11:45 PM by Andrew Masuda
Updated: Jun 21, 2012 11:54 PM

Six athletes with ties to the Central and South Coasts begin their quests for spots on Team USA during day two of the US Olympic Track and Field Trials in Eugene, Oregon.

Beijing Olympic Gold Medalist Stephanie Brown-Trafton competes in the women's discus throw qualifying round Friday. The Arroyo Grande High and Cal Poly graduate set the American record earlier this year of 222 feet, 3 inches. The top twelve throwers in the 24 person field advance to Sunday's finals where three spots in the London Olympics will be on the line.

Two San Luis Obispo residents open the men's decathlon with five events. Chris Randolph and former Cal Poly star Corbin Duer will try to make a run at one of the coveted three spots on Team USA. The 100 meter dash, long jump, shot put, high jump and 400 meter dash are on the agenda. The final five events are on Saturday. The 28 year old Randolph finished 10th at the 2008 Trials, while the 23 year old Duer is making his first appearance.

Lompoc native Duane Solomon, Jr. and UCSB's Ryan Martin will run in the men's 800 meters first round. 32 men will compete in the first round with only the top 16 advancing to Saturday's semifinals. The final is on Monday. Martin is coming off a fourth place finish in the NCAA Division Championships earlier this month and has the fourth fastest time in the field at 1:44.77. Solomon enters as the tenth seed at 1:45.66. He finished sixth in the finals in 2008 and missed making the Olympic Team by half a second.

Former Cal Poly All-American Maggie Vessey runs in the first heat in the first round of the women's 800 meters. She ranks second in the field of 32 with a time of 1:58.50. The former Mustang finished fifth in the 2008 Trials and missed a trip to Beijing by one second. The top 16 move on to Saturday's semifinals with only eight spots available for Monday's finals. The top three, who've met the Olympic A Standard, punch tickets to London.

In case you're wondering there's a second wave of local athletes at the Trials. Former Mustang Aris Borjas, Beijing Olympian Sharon Day, who's another former Mustang and current SLO resident, along with Templeton native Chaunte Howard-Lowe, Mission Prep graduate Jordan Hasay and possibly Lompoc native Michael Coe are set to compete next week.