University of Kansas Track & Field Athletes Come Up Short at Olympic Trials Finals

June 29, 2008

EUGENE, Ore./KINGSTON, Jamaica – A trio of Kansas student-athletes – sprinter Nickesha Anderson, triple jumper Crystal Manning and pole vault specialist Jordan Scott – came up short Sunday in qualifying for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China, in August.

Anderson started her Sunday with the fifth best time (23.12) in the women’s 200 Meter preliminaries at the Jamaican Olympic Trials in Kingston, Jamaica. The KU senior from Hanover, Jamaica, ran the 200 m finals in Lane 8 and posted a 22.68, finishing sixth in the race. Veronica Campbell-Brown won the race with a time of 21.91.

In the women’s triple jump finals, Manning made her first attempt her best jumping 13.36 meters (43 feet, 10 inches) at the U.S. Olympic Trials at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore. The KU senior from Terrell, Texas, finished eighth out of the 12 who reached the finals. Shani Marks (14.38m), Shakeema Welsch (14.27m) and Erica McLain (13.96m) finished 1-2-3 in the triple jump and will represent the U.S. at the Olympic Games.

Also in Eugene, Ore., Scott qualified for the men’s finals in pole vault but did not participate in the finals on Sunday due to injury. The KU sophomore from Watkinsville, Ga., cleared 5.50 meters (18 feet, ½ inches) on Friday to advance to Sunday’s finals. Derek Miles (5.80m), Jeff Hartwig (5.70m) and Brad Walker (5.65m) will represent the U.S. in the Olympic Games.

On Saturday, July 5, KU senior Julius Jiles from Kansas City, Mo., will compete in the 110m Hurdles in Eugene, Ore. Prelims start for Jiles at 11:25 a.m. and can be followed at http://www.usatf.org/events/2008/OlympicTrials-TF/schedule.asp