Pole vaulter Tim Mack won't get to defend his Olympic title in Beijing, as the former University of Tennessee star failed three times to clear 18-4 1/2 Sunday at the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials in Eugene, Ore., after clearing 18-0 1/2, the same height he cleared in Friday's preliminaries.
It is the first time in 12 years - three Olympics - that a Tennessee Vol has not competed in the pole vault.
"The wind was tough today and I think the other guys handled it a bit better," said Jim Bemiller, Mack's coach.
Derek Miles won the event by clearing 19-0 1/4. Mack finished tied for sixth with Jeremy Scott and Paul Gensic. Jeff Hartwig and Brad Walker finished second and third, respectively, and also will head to China.
Women's 400: Former Lady Vol Dee Dee Trotter, who took fourth place in the 2004 Olympics, won her heat in 51.97 seconds and will race in the finals tonight with the sixth-fastest time overall.
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Comments » 2
volintexas writes:
Tough break, but Tim will forever be an Olympic champion.
ncvol writes:
We are sad that you won't be competing but I will have to ditto volintexas post.
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