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Quick Hits, Day 2 - US Olympic Team Trials

June 29, 2008

Recapping Saturday's events and previewing Sunday.

Quote of the Day |"After the first round, I was scared. I almost started crying as soon as I crossed the line because I thought I didn't make it. I was pretty nervous, but this round I ran through the line. I eased up a little bit. I had my arms in here so I wasn't trying to exert too much energy."

Lone Texan | Hernandez' great run to reach make the Olympic team ended on Saturday with the Texas 800m runner failing to make Monday's finals. Hernandez was coming off a NCAA Title win two weeks ago.

Pickler Sneaks In | Diana Pickler needed to stay within 1.5 seconds of 2nd sections winner Jacqueline Johnson to make it to Beijing. Pickler and Johnson will join Hyleas Fountain in China.

Quack | Oregon looks to introduce an additional competitor to Wednesday's action. Emerging Oregon sophomore Ashton Eaton begins his quest to China in the Decathlon.

Gaffe to Glory | Tyson Gay collectively had 20,000 fans in shock after barely making the 1st cut in Heat 4 of the Mens 100m. Two and a half hours later he set the new American Record at 9.77.

Cantwell & Co. Find Right Step | Christian Cantwell makes all the right moves along with Hoffa and Nelson. The triple-threat could finish 1,2,3 in Beijing.

Demps | Sets the National Prep Record in a loaded semifinal of Gay, Dix and Spearmon.

Crowd-Lifted | Andrew Wheating opened up to another stellar reception in semifinals of the Mens 800. Sitting and kicking, Wheating finished second in his heat with a 1:46.23 placing him 4th of seed times.

Pre-Viewed | Nick Symmonds recaptured a little Pre magic with a dazzling performance in Heat 2 of the Mens 800m semi-finals. Running a 1:45.61, Symmonds kept lead steady kick in lane 1 to take home the top qualifying time. Instead of whipping by runners in the final 50m, Symmonds held on strong in lane one, coasting to victory.

Hardest Yet | The Mens 800m Finals are set with only 3 bodies able to make it on the Olympic Team. At this point, it's too-close-to-call with Symmonds, KD, Solomon, Wheating, Smith, Lomong, Johnson, and Jabreh Harris.

Weather | Eugene was HOT and HUMID. Clouds arrived towards the end of the meet and the winds of change finally arrived. The evening was capped off, weather wise, with a wild but distant lightning storm that closed the Eugene08 festival down early. Forecasts for tomorrow expect to be the same.

Flotrack @ 1960 Emerald Street in Eugene | Join us Sunday Morning for the Famed Flotrack 9Am run. We had 25+ on Saturday morning and are looking to increase that again for Sunday. After you get back to the house for water, Veloce Coffee (If the coffee gods shine on us and if I can find a brewer in t-minus 7 hours), fresh New York Style bagels from one of Eugene's Best, Bagelsphere. 12PM noon is lunch from Qdoba and as always, there are giveaways, prizes, Wii Bowling, and a lawn with a patch of shade. Live show starts between 12PM PST - and 1230 PST .