Olympic Trials Update: June 30

June 30, 2012

NORMAN, Okla. -- Three current and former Sooners competed in their respective national championships Saturday.

Aldwyn Sappleton took second in the men's 800-meter run final at the Jamaican National Championships Saturday. The four-time NCAA All-American ran 1:48.43 at National Stadium in Kingston, finishing behind Ricardo Cunningham at 1:48.00.

Sappleton had a stranglehold on the Jamaican 800 title from 2004 to 2010 and appeared in his first Olympic Games in 2008. Whether or not Sappleton's current qualifying time can get into the 2012 Olympic remains to be determined.

In the Jamaican women's 800 final, OU senior Shakeeri Cole ran 2:09.74 for seventh place. Kenia Sinclar claimed the race with nearly a two second advantage, running 2:01.55.

Former Sooner Ronnie Ash's U.S. Olympic Trials ended in the semifinals of the men's 110-meter hurdles. Ash took fifth in his heat at 13.53 and was 14th overall. The slowest finalist qualified in 13.37.

The highlight remains Tia Brooks' performance Friday that added her name to the U.S. Olympic Team in the women's shot put.

Brooks said to the Grand Rapids Press: "When I found out I made it, I cried. I had to calm myself down because I still had one throw left."

"I told myself if I make London then it's meant to be, and to go out and just have some fun. I didn't want to put too much pressure on myself, all I wanted to do was throw (an outdoor personal record of 60-8)."

Brooks threw 60-2, but that was good enough for third and a spot on Team USA.

"It's been a fairy tale this year," Brooks said. "It's just been going so well this, everything has been clicking. My training has been going so well, it's been great."

Sooner women's hurlers Brittany Borman and Amy Backel are among the 12 finalists in the women's javelin throw at the U.S. Trials Sunday at 4:45 p.m. Central.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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