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Olympic Trials are ultimate elimination Wednesday, Jun 25, 2008 By Harry King LITTLE ROCK - The announcement that gymnast Paul Hamm would be on the U.S. team despite being unable to compete in the Olympic Trials raised a question about whether there is a loophole for injured competitors in track and field. NBC has the trials for the runners, jumpers, and throwers beginning Friday and the network's Web site provided the resounding no with some evolving graphics under the headline, "Home of the Hardest Team to Make." The promo begins with a male athlete and the words: "They don't give world champions a free pass." He gives way to a female accompanied by "All-out or left out." Other athletes come and go along with the phrases, "Train like you're #4, Race like you're #1," "One isn't the loneliest number, four is," and "4 years, 6 throws, 3 places. Take your shot." The theme is clear - finish in the top three in the trials in Eugene, Ore., or stay home. The final message is accompanied by a picture of shot putter Christian Cantwell, a disappointing fourth in the 2004 Trials. One of the favorites again this year, he smiled recently when he told The Kansas City Star, "I only remember back to '05." One of many star pupils of Jonesboro-based Earl Bell, pole vaulter Jeff Hartwig twice bombed at the Trials and I was surprised to learn that he is in the prelims on Friday. Although he has cleared at least 19 feet for 12 straight years - a remarkable feat considering he never made 15 feet in high school or 18 feet in college - he turns 41 in September. In June 2000, Hartwig set the American record of 19-9 1-4 that stood until two weeks ago when Brad Walker did a half-inch better. But, weeks after setting the record, Hartwig failed three times at 18-2 at the Olympic Trials and could not compete in Sydney, Australia. Four years later, he failed to clear the qualifying height of 18-1-2. "It's a brutal system we have," he said after his 2000 failure. "For many guys, this is the Olympic Games." It was the failures of Hartwig and the shot putter - I had to look up Cantwell's name - that prompted the question about whether the selection process had changed. Years earlier, there was an even bigger disaster at the Trials when the best decathlete in the world failed to qualify. In 1992, Dan O'Brien set a world record of 8,891 points and a shoe company put together an ad campaign with O'Brien and U.S. rival Dan Johnson promoting the company and the Olympics in Barcelona. At the Trials, O'Brien passed on some low heights in the pole vault, then failed on his three attempts, and his zero cost him a spot on the team. After that, the "Dan and Dave" commercials were revamped to show O'Brien cheering on Johnson. Hamm received a free pass because he broke a bone in his right hand last month. He says his rehabiliation is ahead of schedule, but he will be replaced if he is not in form by late July. In track and field, nobody is exempt from the Trials, not even former Arkansas sprinter Tyson Gay, world champion in the 100 and 200 meters. Elimination of male sprinters begins Saturday. Walker is favored in the pole vault, but Hartwig is one of a half-dozen or so who could land one of the three spots. Such an accomplishment would be one of the feel-good stories out of Eugene. There will be other compelling storylines, including the failures of those on their last go-around and those who will retreat to practice and try again in 2012. Perform or stay home, it's a cold-hearted process - nine days of unscripted Reality TV. ---- Harry King is sports columnist for Stephens Media's Arkansas News Bureau. His e-mail address is hking@arkansasnews.com. |
