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Priester looks to Olympic trials |
By Amanda
Newman, Newberg Graphic reporter
E-mail Amanda at
anewman@eaglenewspapers.com
|
George Fox
University’s Josh Priester has his eyes set on the United States
Olympic Trials.
The 2006 George Fox grad, currently employed as assistant track and
field coach for the school, hopes to participate in next June’s
trials. His event is the decathlon, a 10-part contest that includes
the 100-meter, 400-meter and 1500-meter runs; 110-meter high
hurdles; javelin and discus throws; shot put; pole vault; high jump
and long jump.
Priester attended Walla Walla High School in Walla Walla, Wash.,
where he was district champion in the 300 hurdles and ran on school
record-breaking relay teams. He was introduced to the decathlon at
the age of 16 by an assistant coach, Dave Klicker.
“He
was an awesome coach, very approachable,” Priester told the Walla
Walla Union Bulletin. “He had a gift for getting kids excited about
track.”
At Lane Community College, Priester overcame injuries to achieve a
top-five finish in the 400-meter run. His 4 x 400 relay team placed
second in the conference championship. After transferring to George
Fox, Priester continued to participate in track. At the 2006
division championship meet, he achieved a top-eight performance in
the decathlon and was named an All-American.
Priester passed the 7,000-point mark at a USA Track and
Field-sanctioned meet in Dallas, Texas, earlier this summer. From
there, the Olympic trials are just a few sprints away.
To qualify for the trials in the decathlon event, athletes must
achieve 7,600 points for “B” status and 7,900 for “A” status, within
the 18 months preceding the trials. “A” qualifiers are automatically
included in the event, while “B” athletes are included only to fill
empty spots for a field total of 18 competitors.
The Track and Field Team Trials determine the roster for the United
States Track and Field team. The 2008 trials will be held June
27-July 6 at the University of Oregon’s Hayward Field in Eugene. The
2008 Summer Olympics will take place Aug. 8-24 in Beijing, China.
Priester’s next competition will be the Point Loma Nazarene
Invitational in San Diego in mid-March 2008. |
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From
Aug. 15, 2007, Newberg Graphic
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