San Francisco Chronicle - (Sunday)
Malone ‘unshakable’ on way to win
Brody Malone tried to block it all out. The stakes. The scores. The noise. His ears wouldn’t cooperate.
So yeah, Stanford’s Malone knew exactly where he was in the standings at the U.S. Olympic Trials on Saturday in St. Louis. In the lead. In control. And comfortable.
Equal parts stoic and spectacular, Malone put on a commanding performance while racing to victory and the automatic berth on the Olympic team that came with it. Malone’s allaround total of 171.600 was a good three points ahead of Yul Moldauer and the rest of the field.
Perhaps just as importantly for an American team that’s looking to scratch its way onto the podium in Tokyo next month, Malone seemed immune to the circumstances. It was hard to tell at times if he was in the middle of the meet of his life or just putting in another solid training session back at Stanford.
“What a stud,” U.S. men’s highperformance director Brett McClure said. “I mean, he competed with ice in his veins. He just looked unshakable.”
Malone’s only real show of emotion came after he stuck his dismount on rings, when he pumped his arms three times as he made his way off the mat.
Moldauer, Sam Mikulak, Shane Wiskus and Alec Yoder were also named to the Olympic squad.Brandon Briones, Cameron Bock, Akash Modi, Allan Bower and Alex Diab will serve as the alternates.
Race walker, 38, makes U.S. squad
Race walker Robyn Stevens made her first Olympic team at age 38, finishing the 20 kilometers in 1 hour, 35 minutes, 13 seconds at the U.S. track and field trials in Eugene, Ore. Stevens retired from the sport in 2004 but returned five years ago. Nick Christie won the men’s event in 1:30.48.
Emily Sisson finished the 10,000 meters in a trials record 31 minutes, 3.82 seconds. Karissa Schweizer was second. Alicia Monson took third. Gabby Thomas finished 200 meters in a trialsrecord time of 21.61 seconds to earn an Olympic spot. Joining her will be runnerup Jenna Prandini and thirdplace finisher Anavia Battle.
Grant Holloway won the 110meter hurdles in 12.96 seconds, with Devon Allen and Daniel Roberts also making the team.
Rai Benjamin won the 400meter hurdles in a meetrecord 46.83 seconds. Kenny Selmon finished, and David Kendziera was third.
DeAnna Price bested her American record in the hammer throw at 263 feet, 6 inches. Brook Anderson was second, with Gwendolyn Berry third. Maggie Malone won the javelin with a meetrecord throw of 208 feet, 4 inches. Kara Winger was second, and Avione AllgoodWhetstone finished third, but she does not have the Olympic standard.
Katie Nageotte’s pole vault of 16 feet, 2¾ inches was a record at the U.S. track and field trials, as well as a personal best and the best leap in the world this season. Morgann LeLeux was second and Sandi Morris third.
Brittney Reese made her fourth Olympic team in the long jump with a winning leap of 23 feet, 4¾ inches. Tara Davis was second and Quanesha Burks was third.