News Release

CONTACT:
Ross Krempley—Team XO Director
Tel: 541.579.8326
Email: [email protected]
Mail: P.O. Box 3915 Eugene, OR 97403

A day of so closes…

EUGENE, Ore—21 May 2004— The word of the day at the Willamette Last Chance Qualifier: almost. In a day that featured many marks that were just below Olympic Trials qualification, many of Team XO’s athletes were left with feelings of frustration mixed with elation.

The day started out with Brayce Forsha competing in the 1500. With a near breakthrough performance, Forsha was on pace to break 3:45 through 1400 meters, then the whole world seemed to jump on his back for a ride. “It felt like a monkey, an elephant and a grand piano jumped on my back for the last 100 meters,” said Brayce after the meet.

In the high jump it was another day of bars that just seemed to creep their way off the standards. Kyley Johnson and Jason Boness both had incredible looks at 2.20 (7’2.5”). Both were left with feeling of frustration. On their last attempts, both hit the mat only to watch what they thought as sure makes turn into missed attempts. “I was sure I had made it on my last attempt, it felt like I had plenty of room to spare. It ended up that I did after I looked at some pictures, but in the wrong places, I just need to tune up my technique because the spring is there,” said Boness after the meet.

Another incredible story included Team XO’s throwing specialist Mary Etter. Etter was coaching some of her athletes at a high school district meet, only to find herself running late for her competition later that day. She rushed to the meet she was competing in, and fortunately, got to enter the competition late. With no warm-up, and other competitors already with three throws completed, Mary stepped up to throw an eventual PR. “There’s no way that a PR should have been possible under these circumstances,” said Etter. Etter finished 5 inches of the trials “B” standard, another near miss that comprised Team XO’s day.

Other highlighted competitors include another near breakthrough day by Colin McArthur in the long jump (23-11.75, 1st), Eri McDonald in the 800 (2:12.95, 1st), Brandon Workman in the steeplechase (9:27.36 , 1st), Paul Kezes (14:00.55, 3rd) in the 5000, and Billy Pappas in the long jump (22-10, 2nd).