News Release

CONTACT:
Ross Krempley—Team XO Director
Tel: 541.579.8326
Email: [email protected]
Mail: P.O. Box 3915

Team XO Gains m0mentum at The USA Olympic Team TRIALS

SACROMENTO, Cali.—18 July 2004— With Team XO qualifying 8 competitors to the 2004 U.S. Olympic trials in Sacramento, it was absolutely one of the most well represented teams at the meet. Though only 7 of the qualifiers were able to compete at the trials, Team XO posted 1 finals qualifier, 3 top-15 finishes and several great marks.

Triple jumper, Simidele Adeagbo, led off the competition with a great performance in her qualifying round on day 1. Adeagbo’s first jump of the day earned her a mark of 42’7.5” and a ticket to the finals. In the finals, on the 3rd day of competition, Adeagbo jumped 42’0.75” to secure a 12th place finish at her inaugural Olympic trials experience.

Hammer thrower, Adam Kriz, had a frustrating series in his event on the second day of competition. Kriz’s first throw of the day would have qualified him for the finals, yet it resulted in a sector foul by 3 feet. Kriz’s third throw was also a sector foul so he had to settle for his second and only fair throw of 202’8”, finishing Kriz in 22nd place. Mary Etter placed 19th in the women’s discus throw with a mark of 169’10” which was her first throw of the day. Etter’s second throw did not improve her mark and her third throw resulted in a foul. Both athletes had a great experience at the Olympic Trials and are hungry for next year.

In the men’s javelin, Team XO thrower John Stiegeler fouled his first two throws of the day and settled for his third throw of 214’5” to put him in 21st place. Stiegeler said of his performance, “I really wish I could have got to throw more this year, I am just starting to fell comfortable again after the surgeries.”

On the high jump apron, Jason Boness made his second appearance at a U.S. Olympic trials meet. Boness who barely qualified for the 2004 trials by jumping the qualifying height on the very last day, began the competition strongly. He cleared the opening height on his first attempt yet failed to clear the following height. Boness ended the competition in 18th place with a jump of 7’0.5”, in one of the best high jump Olympic trials in recent memory.

In the women’s pole vault, Team XO vaulter Niki McEwen competed against the likes of world champion Stacy Dragila and former teammate and NCAA champion Becky Holliday. McEwen cleared the opening height of 13’5.25” on her second attempt, yet failed to clear the following height.

Perhaps one of the most spoken names at the Olympic trials this year was “Pappas.” Olympic gold medalist Tom Pappas had the attention of track fans everywhere, yet people were also taking notice of Tom’s younger brother and Team XO decathlete, Billy Pappas. The two brothers competed against each other in the Decathlon in this year’s Olympic trials. Tom Pappas finished in second place, while Billy Pappas finished in 15th place.

The Olympic Team Trials were a great experience for Team XO as an organization, and all of our athletes. It brought the team together and really made us realize how for this team has gone, in less than two years. We are very excited about the promise and integrity of this organization, and don’t see it ending any time soon…