Olympic Trials: Goodman unable to advance on rainy first day
From Staff and Wire Reportssports@newnan.com
EUGENE, Ore. – A rain-soaked first day of the Olympic trials ended unhappily for Newnan sprinter Chalonda Goodman. But there’s still a chance for brighter days.
Up against the nation’s fastest women, the University of Texas junior ran a time of 11.55 to finish 26th among 35 runners despite being separated by eighth place by a mere .29 seconds.
Top sprinters Allyson Felix and Camelita Jeter, both sponsored by hometown Nike at the University of Oregon’s Hayward Field, each won their heats easily.
Goodman posted a season best in the 100 of 11.23 this March at the TCU Invitational during the outdoor season at Texas. But she faced tough odds in the event after posting more recent marks of 11.40 and 11.52 at the NCAA West Regional and national semifinals, respectively.
The eight-time, high-school state champion expects to have a better chance of advancing in the 200 meters, her signature event. Preliminaries are set for Thursday night, with semifinals following Friday and finals on Saturday.
In 2009, Goodman clocked 22.74 in the 200 during a wind-aided final during the USA Junior Track and Field Championships. Her top outdoor time came earlier this month at the NCAA Championships, running 23.14 on June 9, ahead of her best mark as a sophomore.
"It feels good. I’m excited to have the opportunity to compete at the trials,” she said following Thursday’s workout in preparation for today’s 100-meter event. Just warming up and seeing the signs that say U.S. Olympic Trials. To me, this is what I’ve dreamed about since I was seven years old watching the [1996] Olympic Games on television. This is what I’ve been working so hard for this whole time, to be an Olympic gold medal winner. That passion just thrives with me.”
