Backel 10th at Olympic Trials

June 30, 2008

EUGENE, Ore. — Oklahoma junior-to-be Amy Backel closed out a successful first season as a full-time thrower with a 10th place finish in the women's javelin late Monday night at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials. The former multi-event athlete recorded a top throw of 164 feet and four inches (50.08 meters).

After fouling on her first two throws, the 2008 NCAA Outdoor All-American recorded a successful throw on her third. In her first season as a full-time thrower, Backel grabbed the Oklahoma program record in the event in the first competition of the outdoor season and never looked back, eventually claiming a top throw of 171-10 (52.39).

Purdue's Kara Patterson took first in the event with a throw of 191-9 (58.44), breaking the Olympic Trials record of 191-2 (58.28) previously held by Lynda Blutreich, wife of OU throws coach Brian Blutreich.

The U.S. Olympic Team Trials takes a two-day break on Tuesday and Wednesday with action heating back up on Thursday. Oklahoma athletes return to the track on Friday as five competitors take on the nation's best. Independence Day will see the Trials debut of triple jumpers Shardae Boutte and Tydree Lewis along with sprinter Marcus Pugh while female sprinters Leslie Cole and Scottesha Miller make their second appearnce in Eugene.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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