EUGENE, Ore. — Struggling with his rhythm in a persistent rain, high jumper Jesse Williams’ spot on the team for the London appeared to be washing away.
A former Broughton High standout before starring at N.C. State, the reigning world champion bowed out of the competition in fourth place at the U.S. Olympic trials Monday.
Only the top three earn spots to the Olympics – unless someone doesn’t make the Olympic “A” standard of 7 feet, 7 inches. And someone failed to hit that mark, third-place Nick Ross.
Like that, Williams was on the team in an event Jamie Nieto won at 7-5 3/4 and Erik Kynard took second. Kynard, Ross and Williams all also cleared the height.
Williams vowed to train more in the rain, especially because this just might be the type of weather he encounters in London.
Women’s 5,000 meters: Julia Lucas, a two-time ACC champion and an All-American during her N.C. State career in 2005-08, finished third in the women’s 5,000 meters to qualify for the Thursday finals with a time of 15 minutes, 42.82 seconds. She owns the fastest time in the event this year by a U.S. runner.
Men’s 5,000 meters: Ryan Hill, an All-American at N.C. State, finished fourth overall to advance to Thursday’s 16-runner final. Hill improved from seventh during the final lap. His time of 13.43.24 was a half-second behind those of overall winner Lopez Lomong, Bernard Lagat and Benjamin True.
• Former N.C. State All-American Stephen Furst also competed in the race, finishing 19th overall with a time of 13:56.16 to just miss advancing to the final.
Men’s javelin: Sam Humphreys won the javelin at the U.S. trials with a throw of 268 feet, 7 inches, but he won’t make the Olympic team because he doesn’t have the required “A” standard.
Runner-up Sam Crouser, with a throw of 265-1, also won’t be on the team because he hadn’t thrown the standard of 269 feet this season.
The United States will be represented in the London Games by Craig Kinsley, Sean Furey and Cyrus Hostetler, who all have the standard.
Kinsley finished third at the trials with a throw of 262-2. Furey was fourth with 255-5 and Hostetler fifth with 254-8.
Women’s 800: Alysia Montano won in 1:59.08 to make the Olympic team.
Geena Gall was second in 1:59.24 and Alice Schmidt third in 1:59.46 for the other spots for the London Games.
Montano, a three-time U.S. champion, led wire-to-wire while wearing her trademark flower in her hair.
Maggie Vessey, runner-up to Montano at the past two U.S. outdoor championships, finished last in the field in 2:03.44.
Women’s triple jump: Amanda Smock, the only athlete in the field with the Olympic “A” standard of 46-11, won with a jump at 45-9. She will be the lone U.S. representative for the event.
Sheena Gordon was second at the trials at 45-4 1/2, and Andrea Geubelle third at 45-3.
Erica McLain, a two-time U.S. outdoor champion who was coming off a severe ankle injury early in 2011, finished eighth.
Men’s basketball
France: San Antonio Spurs guard Tony Parker said he might miss the Olympics after revealing he almost lost his eye at a New York nightclub incident this month when a fight broke out between musical artist Chris Brown and entourage members of hip-hop star Drake.
In an interview posted on his website Sunday, Parker said medical tests last week found that a shard of glass had “penetrated 99 percent” of his left eye. The injury initially was thought to be a scratched cornea.
Parker said he would decide on the Olympics after consulting with a New York eye specialist July 5. France will begin play July 29 against the U.S. team.
News Services


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