Pasco's Marisa Howard surges her way onto US Olympic team with third place finish in steeple...
EUGENE--In a very dramatic women's steeplechase highlighting Day 7 of the United States Olympic Team Trials at Hayward Field in Eugene, Pasco native Marisa Howard (Paul Merca photo) took advantage of a slight stumble from Woodinville native Olivia Markezich on the final water jump to finish third in a personal best, and put herself on the US Olympic team for the Paris Olympics next month.
After Annie Rodenfels set the pace early by creating a 4 second gap on the field just past the three minute mark, the field whittled her lead away and caught up with three laps to go.
A pack of four--eventual winner Valerie Constien, Markezich, second place finisher Courtney Wayment, and Howard made their break from the rest of the field.
Just before the bell, Howard, who attended Pasco High School then went to Boise State University, made a surge in hopes of stealing the race from the other three. Markezich, who attended the Bear Creek School before graduating from Notre Dame, went with Howard.
Just before entering the backstretch for the final time, Constien countered Howard's surge with a surge of her own, and would carry it all the way to the finish line, taking the win in a meet record and personal best 9:03.22.
Things got interesting on the final water jump, as Markezich, who had an advantage of a step, stumbled slightly and may have hit her foot on the inside railing of the track. In the mixed zone, she said that her stumble was because of the buildup of lactic acid from the fast pace.
That was the opening that Howard and Wayment needed, as Markezich tried to regain momentum.
Howard and Wayment cleared the final barrier cleanly, while Markezich stumbled and fell onto the track. Wayment's momentum gave her an advantage over Howard, as she finished second in 9:06.50, with Howard third in 9:07.14.
A stunned Markezich picked herself up after being passed by Gabbi Jennings (9:12.08), and former Seattle Pacific All-American Kaylee Mitchell (9:14.05), as Markezich finished sixth in 9:14.87.
One place behind her was Seattle resident Allie Ostrander, who finished in 9:21.82.
Washington alum Kayley DeLay of the Brooks Beasts was twelfth in 9:29.07.
Such was the depth of this race that the top nine finishers all set personal bests.
"I don't think that I hit anything on the last barrier, but my legs gave out. It's not the ending I hoped for, but I still got a PR, even though I was basically walking it in," said Markezich.
When asked about the stumble on the water pit, she said that nothing was wrong with her landing foot, but that her legs felt "lactic" from the fast pace.
In a short interview with NBC's Lewis Johnson, Howard said, "All glory to the Lord. I'm very happy to be on the team with these two ladies (Constein and Wayment)."
Courtesy of NBC Sports, here's video of the race (may be geoblocked outside the USA):
Thursday's competition consisted primarily of qualifying rounds.
On the track, Isaiah Harris (1:46.14), Brannon Kidder (1:46.48) and Brandon Miller (1:47.10) of the Brooks Beasts, along with Washington alums Sam Ellis (1:46.65) and Cass Elliott (1:47.41) advanced out of the first round of the men's 800.
In the men's 400 hurdles, Washington State alums CJ Allen (50.08), and Jared McAlvey (50.91), and UW grad Jonathan Birchman (50.68) all advanced to the semis.
Washington alums Eleanor Fulton (4:07.41) and Anna Gibson (4:10.73), along with Allie Buchalski (4:16.46) all earned automatic qualifying finishes in the women's 1500, while her Beasts teammate Teagan Schein-Becker (4:15.46), and current Husky Chloe Foerster (4:17.73) didn't advance to the semifinals.
Seattle resident Sam Prakel finished fifth in his heat of the men's 5000 in 13:25.01 to advance to the finals, while Dillon Maggard of the Brooks Beasts finished 14th in his heat in 13:41.51 and didn't advance.
Washington State alum Kiana Davis was 19th in the women's long jump qualifying round, with a best of 20-4.25 (6.20m).
Spokane native Josh Syrotchen was 14th in the discus qualifying, throwing 193-11 (59.10m), two places short of qualifying for Saturday's final.
In the other final contested Thursday, reigning Olympic champion Valarie Allman won the discus with a sixth round throw of 232-0 (70.73m).
Friday's competition will see the return of Vancouver native Kara Winger in the women's javelin at 4 pm as she begins her quest to match Allyson Felix, who made five US Olympic teams in her career.
Also on tap, Ridgefield HS alum Trey Knight and Washington State alum Brock Eager go in the qualifying round of the men's hammer at 4:30.
Just before 6pm, former Pullman resident and defending Olympic champion Katie Moon, and current Huskies Hana and Amanda Moll start the qualifying round in the women's pole vault.
Also, Buchalski, Gibson and Fulton run in the semifinals of the women's 1500 at 6 pm.
Allen, McAlvey, and Birchman run in the semis of the men's 400 hurdles at 6:21 pm, while Washington alums Ellis and Elliott, along with Miller and Harris of the Brooks Beasts go in the semis of the men's 800 at 6:44 pm.
NOTE: USA Track & Field contributed to this report.
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