Sports

Alaskans aim for Rio at track and field Olympic Trials

Several Alaskans continue chasing their Olympic track and field dreams  later this week, hoping to book passage on the road to Rio.

Competing at the U.S. Olympic Trials at storied Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, beginning Friday, will be former Eielson High long jumper Janay DeLoach, the 2012 Olympic bronze medalist; former Bartlett High shot putter Jordan Clarke; former Soldotna High discus thrower Paige Blackburn; steeplechaser Isaac Updike of Ketchikan; and distance runner Allie Ostrander of Soldotna.

Ostrander, who sat out her freshman outdoor track season at Boise State with injury, confirmed Monday she will race the 5,000 meters at the Trials.

Part 1 — Leap of Faith: Olympic medalist DeLoach puts right leg forward

Part 2 — Heavy lifting: Shot putter Clarke part of stacked Olympic Trials field

Part 3 — Dynamite discus: Big throw turned Soldotna's Blackburn into Olympic Trials contender

Part 4 — Potential Unlocked: Ketchikan's Updike goes from small-college walk-on to Olympic Trials steeplechaser

ADVERTISEMENT

Part 5 — Bouncing back: After injury, Soldotna's Ostrander gives Olympic Trials a run

DeLoach, Clarke and Blackburn own Trials experience. DeLoach finished third at the 2012 Trials, where Clarke finished eighth and Blackburn, then competing in the javelin, finished 22nd.

Only three Alaskans have reached the Olympics in track and field.

DeLoach, of course, reached the podium in London. Anchorage doctor Chris Clark, who in 2000 shocked the American running scene by winning the women's marathon at the Trials, finished 19th at the Games in Sydney, Australia. And Anchorage's Don Clary competed in the 5,000 meters at the 1984 Games in Los Angeles.

Doyle Woody

Doyle Woody covered hockey and other sports for the Anchorage Daily News for 34 years.

ADVERTISEMENT