Joe Kovacs was expected to dominate in the men’s shot put final at the US Track and Field Olympic Trials on Friday, but he wound up finishing in second place. Kovacs managed a distance of 21.95 meters on his best throw, which put him behind Ryan Crouser, who managed 22.11 meters.
US Track & Field Olympic trial results: Galen Rupp wins 10,000-meter qualifying, Ryan Crouser tops shot put finals
Rupp and Crouser earned berths to the Rio Olympics along with a handful of others at the US Track and Field Olympic trials on Friday.
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Fortunately, the top three distances posted in Friday’s final will advance to the 2016 Rio Olympics. Kovacs held the season best of 22.13 meters going into the trials, just slightly better than Crouser’s mark. Prior to the trials, that was nearly a foot farther than anybody else’s throw in 2016. Both Kovacs and Crouser will make it to Rio, along with Darrell Hill, who finished in third with a distance of 21.63 meters.
All three will be appearing in their first Olympic Games. Men’s shot put is expected to be the best throwing event for the United States in Rio, and anything less than multiple medals would be a disappointment given the field of three that have made it.
Galen Rupp, the London 2012 silver medalist, is returning to Rio after taking first place in the men’s 10,000-meter race on Friday. Rupp was actually already qualified for the Rio Olympics, the only person competing at the Track and Field trials in Eugene, Ore., to have already done so. He won the Marathon Trials back in February and will now compete in the two grueling events.
For Rupp, Friday’s win was also his eighth straight US title, completing the race in 27:55.04. No other American has won eight straight National Titles in the race.
Shadrack Kipchirchir finished in second in the 10,000-meter race, with Leonard Korir finishing in third. The top three from the race will advance to Rio, so they will be joining Rupp on Team USA later this summer.
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