Athletics: Williams nearly misses Olympics

EUGENE: Reigning world high jump champion Jesse Williams barely qualified for London while Alysia Montano served notice she will be an 800m medal threat at the US Olympic Trials. Normally the top three finishers book US berths at the Olympics, but Williams slipped in with a fourth-place finish only because third-place finisher Nick Ross had not reached the Olympic A standard. “For me not to be on the team would be a disaster,” said Williams. “It almost didn’t happen for me.” Montano won the women’s 800m. “I don’t want to go to the Games for the Olympic experience,” said Montano. “I want a spot on the podium. I want to win.” Montano earlier in the year set the second highest time this year in the women’s 800m.

Published In The Express Tribune, June 27^th, 2012.