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Irish alum Huddle makes Olympic team; Plymouth's Uceny on pace

Posted: 4:45 PM Jun 28, 2012
Reporter: Angelo Di Carlo

Molly Huddle is an Olympian for the first time!

The Notre Dame alum finished 2nd at the Olympic Trials in Eugene, Oregon Thursday night in the 5,000 meter run with a time of 15 minutes and 14.40 seconds. The top three finishers make the Olympic team and will represent the United States next month in London.

Huddle had the lead in the final 100 meters but was passed by Julie Culley. The real drama came for the 3rd and final spot. Julia Lucas broke from the pack midway through the race and had a commanding lead but gassed out on the final lap and was passed by Kim Conley in a photo finish. Lucas misses out on the Olympics thanks to .04 seconds.

Plymouth native Morgan Uceny won her preliminary heat and is the top female qualifier in the 1,500 meter women's run heading into Friday's semifinals.

Uceny won her heat in 4 minutes and 14.07 seconds. That's much slower than her usual pace as she cruised to victory and conserved energy heading into the semis.

Uceny, ranked #1 in the world in the 1500 meter run, will need to make it out of the semifinals Friday night and then finish in the top three Saturday in the finals to qualify for the London Olympics.

2009 Notre Dame alum Dan Clark advanced on the men's side by finishing 5th in his heat of the 1,500 meter run. Clark finished with three minutes and 42.05 seconds.

Elkhart Memorial assistant track coach Mark Hollis came up just short on making the Olympic team. Hollis had to clear 18 feet, 9 inches to reach the Olympic "A" standard an additional requirement to make the team in addition to finishing in the top three. On his final vault, Hollis got over the pole but clipped it and failed to reach the "A" standard.