2016 Olympics: Daily Pac-12 guide to the Rio Olympics
On the second-to-last day of the Rio Olympics, the docket is full with Pac-12-affiliated athletes competing in several sports including women's golf, men's water polo, women’s triathlon and the women's mountain bike. 2016 Pac-12 Men's Diver of the Year Rafael Quintero (Arizona) is in the 10-meter platform and the USA women's volleyball team looks to rebound from an upset and claim bronze. On the track, the 4x400-meter women's team looks to defend its gold from London.
Daily Pac-12 Guide to the Rio Olympics (Aug. 20, 2016):
Track & Field (M/W)
It is the final night on the blue track and there is nothing but finals on the schedule, seven in total. The Pac-12 has a stake in four of the finals beginning with the women’s high jump where the USA’s Inika McPherson (California) had the third-highest jump.
Bernard Lagat (Washington State/Arizona) is the oldest American to race at the Olympics on the track at 41 years old, racing in the final of the 5,000 meters. USA teammate Matthew Centrowitz (Oregon) looks to claim a spot on the medal stand in the 1,500 meters, which has eluded him, after missing out on a medal in 2008 by less than half a second.
The evening wraps up with the 4x400-meter relays where the USA women, with the help of Phyllis Francis (Oregon), posted the fastest qualifying time.
Cycling Mountain Bike
USA’s Chloe Woodruff (Arizona) and the Czech Republic’s Katerina Nash (Colorado) finally get their opportunities for medals at the Rio Olympics, running in the third line and second line, respectively, of the cross country event.
Diving (M)
2016 Pac-12 Men’s Diver of the Year and Puerto Rico’s Rafael Quintero (Arizona) finished in the top-10 of the prelims and advanced to the semifinal round of the 10-meter platform looking to make it to the finals to compete for a medal later that day.
Golf (W)
The Pac-12 has 12 golfers in the field of 60 in Rio and three are in the top 20 heading into round four. Sweden’s Anna Nordqvist (Arizona State) leads the Conference’s contingent, standings in a tie for eighth.
Triathlon (W)
New women’s triathlon assistant coach at Arizona State, Erin Densham races in Rio while representing Australia.
Water Polo (M)
Kostas Genidounias (USC) looks to lead his team to a fifth-place finish when they take on Hungary in the 5th/6th-place match.
Volleyball (W)
After being upset by Serbia in the quarterfinal round, head coach and former Bruin Karch Kiraly looks to turn things around and lead the American women to claim the bronze against the Netherlands. The USA may have to play without middle blocker Foluke Akinradewo (Stanford), who missed most of the last match because of injury.