Skip to main content
Advertising

Originally published June 21, 2012 at 8:44 PM | Page modified June 22, 2012 at 12:45 PM

  • Share:
           
  • Comments (0)
  • Print

Kibwe Johnson earns first Olympic berth in hammer throw

Amber Campbell tops the women's side on the first day of U.S. Track and Field trials.

Most Popular Comments
Hide / Show comments
No comments have been posted to this article.
Start the conversation >

advertising

BEAVERTON, Ore. — After 36 years, Kibwe Johnson's grandparents have someone special to cheer for in London.

Johnson won the hammer at the Olympic trials with a throw of 245 feet, 11 inches Thursday to earn a trip to the London Games.

"My grandparents have been to every Olympics since 1976, I think," he said. "And now they get to see me there."

A.G. Kruger, who finished third with a throw of 242-6, also will represent the United States.

Second-place Chris Cralle, who threw 243-11, doesn't have the Olympic "A" standard of 255-11 needed to qualify for the games. Both Johnson and Kruger had already met the mark.

On the women's side, Amber Campbell, Amanda Bingson and Jessica Cosby earned spots on the U.S. Olympic team.

Johnson, who last year became the first American to break the 80-meter barrier since 2000, celebrated after his final throw by laying down on an image of the Olympic rings at the center of the hammer field.

The event was held at Nike's headquarters, about 110 miles north of where the rest of the Olympic trials will start Friday at Eugene's Hayward Field.

Johnson, who has competed in the hammer at two world championships, will be competing in his first Olympics.

"I've been a starving hammer thrower for so long," Johnson said. "It's good to make it."

Kruger said he's keeping his sights on London, his third Olympics.

Campbell had a meet-record throw of 235-6 earlier in the day. Bingson was just shy of that mark, while third-place finisher Cosby, who competed in Beijing, threw 232-2.

Campbell, who also competed in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, jumped up and down in the circle and squealed for joy after her long throw.

"I knew as soon as I let it go and I hit it that it was going to be a good one," Campbell said.

News where, when and how you want it

Email Icon

Career Center Blog

Career Center Blog

How to talk yourself into a job


Advertising