Rossum Competes in Trials
EUGENE, Ore. – Alexa Rossum competed in her first U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials on Thursday and though she did not advance, the Stanford freshman placed 21st overall in the women's 200 meters and gained big-meet experience for future seasons.
Rossum, among six 2021 Stanford athletes to compete in the Trials at Hayward Field, ran 23.26 to place fifth in her heat and was 0.29 from advancing on time.
The final Stanford athlete to compete will be Virginia Miller, who competes in the women's javelin on Friday.
Several alumni drew closer to Olympic berths on Thursday. Rebecca Mehra '16 advanced to the women's 800 semifinals, and Grant Fisher '19, Garrett Heath '08, and Thomas Ratcliffe '20 advanced to the men's 5,000 final. Fisher is the only one among them who already has the Olympic standard in those events. He also previously qualified for the U.S. team in the 10,000.
Olivia Baker '18 was sixth in her heat of the 800 and did not advance. Baker led at the bell, but was unable to maintain her spot on the backstretch. Mehra was second in her heat at 400, took the lead on the backstretch, and was comfortably in qualifying position (top two) down the final straightaway. Mehra's time of 2:01.42, was just off her personal best of 2:01.09.
Heath was a late addition to the 5,000 field, helped by Sean McGorty's decision to bypass that event and focus on the steeplechase. While Fisher's control of the race was expected – he was second – Heath worked to avoid being the off man out among a final lead group of six, in which only five would qualify. Heath kicked past Colorado's Eduardo Herrera down the stretch to earn the final automatic qualifying spot in the race.
In Heat Two, Ratcliffe placed seventh, but secured advancement on time, in 13:37.80.
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U.S. Olympic Trials
At Hayward Field
(Results of 2021 Stanford athletes and alumni)
Men
5,000 first round – 7, Thomas Ratcliffe (North Carolina) 13:37.80 (q); 12, Grant Fisher (Nike/Bowerman TC) 13:43.41 (Q); 15, Garrett Heath (Brooks Beasts TC) 13:44.48 (Q).
Women
200 first round – 21, Alexa Rossum (Stanford) 23.26.
800 first round – 16, Rebecca Mehra (Oiselle/Littlewing Athletics) 2:01.42 (Q); 28, Olivia Baker (Garden State TC/New Balance) 2:03.33.
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Stanford's Schedule
Friday (June 25)
TV: NBCSN, 2-5 p.m.
1 p.m. – Women's javelin qualifying (Virginia Miller).
3:02 p.m. – Women's 800 semifinals (Rebecca Mehra).
4:42 p.m. – Men's 3,000 steeplechase final (Sean McGorty).
Saturday (June 26)
TV: NBC, 6-8 p.m.
(9:35 a.m. PT – British trials, men's 5,000 final (Charles Hicks)).
10 a.m. – Women's 10,000 final (Sara Bei Hall, Elise Cranny, Vanessa Fraser, Fiona O'Keeffe).
5:30 p.m. – Women's javelin final.
Sunday (June 27)
TV: NBC, 4-5:30 p.m.
10 a.m. – Men's 5,000 final (Grant Fisher, Garrett Heath, Thomas Ratcliffe).
4:30 p.m. – Women's 800 final.