WASHINGTON TRACK & FIELD ATHLETES AT THE LONDON OLYMPICS

2012, Paul Merca, for paulmerca.blogspot.com MRT ISRAEL Estonia Discus Washington ties: Attended University of Washington PERSONAL BEST: 219-9 (66.98m) in Chula Vista, CA 5/12/2011 SEASON BEST: 207-3 (63.19m) June 5, in Bellinzona, Switzerland Mart, who competed for the Huskies in two meets in 2007 before being declared ineligible due to credits transferring from Tallinn University of Technology in Estonia, was selected by his countrys federation, based on his breakthrough season in 2011, which included setting a personal best of 219-9 in Chula Vista, winning the World University Games title in China, and an unexpected fourth place finish at last year's world championships in Daegu. London marks Israel's second Olympic appearance. In 2008, he missed the finals by two places, throwing 203-4 (61.98m).

EBBA JUNGMARK Sweden High Jump Washington ties: Attended Washington State University PERSONAL BEST: 6-5 (1.96m) indoors, 3/6/11 in Paris; 6-4 1/4 (1.94m) outdoors, 9/13/11 in Zagreb, Croatia SEASON BEST: 6-4 3/4 (1.95m) indoors, March 10, Istanbul; 6-3 1/4 (1.91m) outdoors, June 2, Eugene Ebba, who won the 2008 NCAA indoor high jump title for Washington State in her one season with the Cougars, had a major breakthrough in March in tying for second at the IAAF world indoor championships in Istanbul with a jump of 6-4 3/4, a mark she accomplished both in the finals and in the qualifying the day before. At the recent European championships in Helsinki, she finished tenth with a jump of 6-0 3/4 (1.85m). London is Jungmark's first Olympic appearance, though she has jumped in two world championship meets in her career--2007 in Osaka, and last year in Daegu.

BERNARD LAGAT United States 5000 meters Washington ties: Attended Washington State University Social media: @Lagat1500 PERSONAL BEST: 12:53.60 (American record), 7/22/2011, Monaco SEASON BEST: 13:22.82, June 28th, Eugene Bernard finished second in the US Olympic Trials behind Galen Rupp to make his second US Olympic team, and fourth career Olympic appearance, having competed for his native Kenya in 2000 and 2004. This season, he's won the world indoor title in the 3000, running 7:41.44 to outkick Great Britain's Mo Farah in Istanbul, marking his third career world championship at that distance. At last year's world championships in Daegu, he finished second in the 5000 behind Farah, running 13:23.64 in a tactical race. In his three previous career Olympic appearances, he finished third in the 1500 in Sydney; was second in Athens in an epic battle with Morocco's Hicham El Guerrouj; and doubled in Beijing, where he was fifth in the semis of the 1500, and ninth in the 5000 finals, despite being hampered with an Achilles problem entering the Games. INGVILL MKESTAD BOVIN Norway 1500 meters Washington ties: Attended University of Washington Social media: @RunIngvill, runingvill.com PERSONAL BEST: 4:02.20, 8/29/2010 in Rieti, Italy SEASON BEST: 4:03.71, July 7th in St. Denis, France Ingvill makes her first Olympic appearance, based on a solid season that's included running 4:03.71 on July 7th at the Paris Diamond League meeting, and a 2:39.65 in the 1000 at the Bislett Games in Oslo. Mkestad Bovin's biggest international accomplishment came in last year's world championships in Daegu where she was sixth in the finals of the 1500, running 4:06.85. At the European Championships in Helsinki, she finished 11th in 4:13.32.

HALEY NEMRA Marshall Islands 800 meters Washington ties: Attended Marysville-Pilchuck HS Social media: @HaleyNemra, facebook.com/pages/HaleyNemra/240133376104693 PERSONAL BEST: 2:13.83, 2008, Washington 4A Championships SEASON BEST: 2:15.94, May 12th in Willamette, Oregon Haley makes her second Olympic appearance for the Marshall Islands, as she ran 2:18.83, a distant seventh in her heat in Beijing. Nemra, who competes collegiately for the University of San Francisco, has battled an Achilles tendon issue, which wiped out her 2011 season for the Dons, and competed in five meets for USF this season, running a best of 2:15.94 at the West Coast Invitational. She competed in the Oceania Regional Championships in Cairns, Australia in late June, finishing second in the 800 in 2:16.04, and fifth in the 400 in 58.96. The IAAF A & B standards for the Olympics are 1:59.90 & 2:01.30. However, the IAAF allows countries without qualified athletes to enter a maximum of 1 male and 1 female in accordance with the specifications of the qualification system. Nemra was the flagbearer for the Marshall Islands at the Opening Ceremonies. KARA PATTERSON United States Javelin Washington ties: Attended Skyview HS/Vancouver Social media: @KaraThrowsJav, karapatterson.blogspot.com PERSONAL BEST: 218-8 (66.67m) (American record), 6/25/2010 in Des Moines, Iowa SEASON BEST: 198-5 (60.49m) June 29, Eugene Kara made her second US Olympic team by finishing second at the US Olympic Trials with a throw of 196-2 (59.79m) in the third round on July 1st, after leading the qualifying two days earlier with a throw of 198-5. Will go into London having suffered a hyperextended knee in the fourth round at the Trials, an injury that caused her to skip the Samsung Diamond League meeting in London, and ended her streak of four straight US national titles. In three Samsung Diamond League meets this season, her best placing was third in New York, where she threw 197-11 (60.33m).

In her previous Olympic appearance, she was 21st in her flight in Beijing, throwing 177-2 (54.00m). Patterson has competed at the last two IAAF world championships in Berlin and Daegu. JARRED ROME United States Discus Washington ties: Attended Marysville-Pilchuck HS Social media: @JarredRome PERSONAL BEST: 225-7 (68.76m), 8/6/2011, Chula Vista, CA. SEASON BEST: 212-5 (64.76m), June 20, San Diego CA (Mesa College) Jarred made his second career Olympic team with a sixth round toss and season best of 207-10 (63.35m) to finish second at the US Olympic trials. In his two Samsung Diamond League competitions this season, Rome was sixth at the Golden Gala in Rome, with a mark of 197-5 (60.19m), and ninth at the adidas GP in New York, throwing 197-7 (60.22m). Rome won the 2004 US Olympic Trials in Sacramento, and in his only Olympic appearance, he was 14th in qualifying in Athens, throwing 201-11 (61.55m). He's appeared in four straight IAAF world championships, with his best placing a seventh place finish in 2005 in Helsinki, throwing 210-8 (64.22m). Is a big Seattle Seahawks fan. ARETHA THURMOND United States Discus Washington ties: Attended Renton HS/University of Washington Social media: @ArethaThrows, arethathrows.com PERSONAL BEST: 216-1 (65.86m), 3/28/2004, Marietta, GA SEASON BEST: 208-2 (63.44m), April 27, San Diego CA One of the most consistent discus throwers in American history, Aretha made her fourth career US Olympic team with a second place finish, throwing 204-2 (62.23m). This season, she's appeared in four meets in the Samsung Diamond League series, with her best placings a pair of sixth place finishes in Shanghai and Eugene. In her three previous career Olympic appearances, Thurmond finished tenth in Beijing (196-2, 59.80m), tenth in her qualifying group in Athens (193-0, 58.82m), and 34th in Atlanta (183-10, 56.04m). Thurmond has appeared in five IAAF world championship meets, with her best a tenth place

finish in Berlin in 2009. BRAD WALKER United States Pole Vault Washington ties: Attended University HS in Spokane/University of Washington Social media: @SkyWalkerPV, bradwalkerusa.com PERSONAL BEST: 19-9 3/4 (6.04m) (American Record), 6/8/2008, Eugene SEASON BEST: 19-4 1/4 (5.90m), July 12, Chula Vista CA Brad punched his ticket to London by winning the US Olympic Trials in less than ideal conditions, clearing 18-7 1/4 (5.67m) to make his second US Olympic team. This season, he swept both the US indoor and outdoor national titles, and finished third at the world indoor championships in Istanbul, marking the third time he's medaled at that meet, winning in 2006 in Moscow, and taking second in 2008 in Valencia. Has only competed in one Samsung Diamond League meet this season, finishing fourth in Shanghai on May 19th. Was originally entered in London, but opted to compete in Chula Vista on July 12, clearing a season best 19-4 1/4. Finished second to Great Britain's Steve Lewis on July 21st in Szcczcin, Poland. He finished in a 3-way tie for first at the Internationales Stabhochsprung-Meeting in Jockgrim, Germany on July 25th, clearing 19-0 (5.81m). Walker, the 2007 world outdoor champion from Osaka, has struggled with injuries since 2009, when he was hurt at the Herculis meeting in Monaco, an injury that forced his withdrawal from that year's world championships in Berlin. In his one Olympic appearance, he failed to clear a height in the qualifying round. I definitely wasnt happy with what happened in Beijing. I can put it behind me in a healthy way and use it as motivation. I wont completely forget about it, but itll be safely out of the way.

COMPETITION SCHEDULE All times listed are London time; Seattle is eight hours behind.
3 August 4 August 5 August 6 August 19:10 Women's Discus Qualifying (Aretha Thurmond) 19:30 Women's Discus Finals (Aretha Thurmond) None 10:00 Men's Discus Qualifying (Jarred Rome, Mrt Israel) 11:45 Women's 1500 Heats (Ingvill Mkestad Bovin) 7 August 10:00 Women's Javelin Qualifying (Kara Patterson) 19:45 Men's Discus Finals (Jarred Rome, Mrt Israel) 8 August 10:00 Men's Pole Vault Qualifying (Brad Walker) 10:45 Men's 5000 Heats (Bernard Lagat) 11:35 Women's 800 Heats (Haley Nemra) 19:45 Women's 1500 Semis (Ingvill Mkestad Bovin) 9 August 09:30 Women's High Jump Qualifying (Ebba Jungmark) 19:30 Women's 800 Semis (Haley Nemra) 21:00 Women's Javelin Finals (Kara Patterson) 10 August 19:00 Men's Pole Vault Finals (Brad Walker) 20:55 Women's 1500 Finals (Ingvill Mkestad Bovin) 11 August 19:00 Women's High Jump Finals (Ebba Jungmark) 19:30 Men's 5000 Finals (Bernard Lagat) 20:00 Women's 800 Finals (Haley Nemra) NOTE: Times are subject to change.

Special thanks to Track & Field News, USA Track & Field, the IAAF, LOCOG & various sports information departments for research material used to compile this viewers guide. All photos by Paul Merca, except for Haley Nemra.