Day one of the U.S. Olymic Team Trials is complete and four of the top high school athletes in the country showed their best against the nation's top professional athletes. Leading the way Friday were seniors Victoria Jordan (TX) and Chanelle Price (PA), junior Anna Jelmini (CA), while sophomore Laura Roesler (ND) also competed. The results were mixed, but all four competed with strong determination. Read about the day's performances from MileSplit US on-site.
Top Friday Performances - Laura Roesler (ND) advances in women's 800m dash in 2:04.03 - Victoria Jordan (TX) runs 11.26 100m in prelims, 11.29 in quarters - Anna Jelmini (CA) throws 160-06 for women's discus, 19th overall - Chanelle Price (PA) finishes sixth in 800m heat with 2:05.93 effortOlympic Trials Coverage: Friday Highlights
Women's 800m Dash
It would have been nice to see star half-milers Chanelle Price (Easton, PA) and Laura Roesler (Fargo South, ND) go head-to-head in the women's 800m dash prelims Friday evening, but it was not to be. However, both competed with fire as they made their push to advance to the next round.
Roesler went first, taking part in heat one of the event. A comfortable opening pace played right into Roesler's favor, sitting in the back of the back through 200 meters, before moving up into about seventh place at the quarter. The sophomore passed the half way point in 62.5, then made a strong move around the 500 meter mark, only to get cut off and pushed out.
At that point Roesler made another move to get in a good position on the final turn. With 100 meters to go she sat in fifth, with only the top four guaranteed a spot in the next round. With 30 meters to go Roesler made one last push to place fourth in 2:04.03. Throughout the entire race the announcer was announcing exactly what was transpiring with Roesler and the North Dakota native showed impressive skill despite being so young.
Price on the other hand didn't look her normal self. The front-runner decided to sit back a bit early on, passing through the 200 meter mark in 28.9, nearly getting tripped up. Moving to the outside and in good position, Price made a moe to position herself in 3-4 place at the quarter. Her 400m split was 60.2.
With a lap to go Price held her ground, hitting the 600 meter mark in 1:32, but when it came time to move the senior couldn't respond and faded back to sixth. Price finished a disappointing sixth and walked off the track looking disappointed and dejected.
Women's 100m Dash
Victoria Jordan (Fort Worth Dunbar, TX) earned the last qualifying spot out of the prelims for the quarter-finals earlier in the day Friday, running 11.36. Later in the day Jordan finished eighth in her heat, while running 11.29. She did not advance to the next round, but earned some quality experience for her future collegiate career.
Women's Discus
Competing against some of the best in the country may have scared nearly all high school athletes, but not Anna Jelmini (Shafter, CA). The California junior stayed consistent, just like she had all season, throwing a top throw of 160-06 to finish 19th overall. Jelmini's first toss of 139-03 was a bit conservative, but she threw her last two throws like she had nothing to lose, throwing over 158 on both.
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