Clark takes her own advice, advances in 800 at U.S. Olympic trials

EUGENE, Ore. — For the most part, Hazel Clark listens to her brother, J.J. Clark.

But when J.J. — the Tennessee Lady Vols coach who doubles as Hazel’s coach — told her to not jump out front in the quarterfinals of the women’s 800 meters, Hazel decided not to listen.

“He told me to sit on second place but I thought, ‘forget this,’ and took off,” said a laughing Clark. “I’m more comfortable in front.”

Clark finished first in her heat and second overall in the preliminaries, running a 2:03.65 on the first day of the USA Olympic Track and Field Trials at Hayward Field.

Clark, who lives and trains in Knoxville, ran at the Prefontaine Classic at Hayward two weeks ago, placing third with a time of 2:00.51. She talked after that race about getting boxed in and vowed there would be no repeat Friday.

“That was not happening again,” Clark said. “I was frustrated because at the end of that race I had so much energy left.”

Clark will run today as one of 12 athletes in the 800 semifinals, with the top eight runners advancing to the finals on Monday. Clark is seeking her third consecutive Olympic berth.

Also running in the semis today will be former Tennessee standout Kameisha Bennett, who had the third-fastest quarterfinal time at 2:04.85.

Other Knoxville-area athletes were disappointed with their performances.

Phoebe Wright, a current UT athlete, just missed the cut, finishing fifth in her heat at 2:05.66.

“I didn’t last,” Wright said. “I had to make a major move with about 100 (meters) to go, and I kept getting tripped.”

Multiple athletes complained about getting bumped around, including Nicole Cook, also a former UT athlete who finished eighth in her heat at 2:06.38. Chanelle Price, an incoming Lady Vol freshman, did not advance to the semifinals either, placing sixth in her heat at 2:05.93.

In the men’s 800, former UT athlete Jebreh Harris finished third in his heat to advance to today’s semifinals.

“Qualifying was all that mattered,” he said after running a 1:49.29. “I got to that point and it was fine. (Now) I just have to keep my head right and eat right.”

Tim Mack, the 2004 Olympic champion in the pole vault, also had a good showing on the first day, qualifying for Sunday’s pole vault finals. Mack and 13 other athletes cleared 18 feet, ½ inch to advance.