(Eugene, OR) – This week has been all Iowa for the U.S. Olympic Trials. Multiple Iowans will be competing in France in the 2024 Olympics after competing at the U.S. Olympic trials in Eugene, Oregon. Just on Saturday night alone, three athletes from Iowa claimed their ticket to France.
In the Women’s 200-meter Dash Finals, Brittany Brown, formally of Iowa, has claimed her spot on her first Olympic team after running 21.90 for her personal-best mark. Former Dowling Catholic athlete, Karissa Schweizer of Urbandale, Iowa will run in both the 5,000-meter and 10,000-meter races after capturing third in the Women’s 10,000-meter finals at 31:41.56 to make her second Olympic team. Finally, in the Men’s 200-meter Dash Finals, former Indian Hills Community College athlete Kenny Bednarek will go to the Olympics once again after running his personal-best 19.59 in the 200-meter dash. The former 2021 Olympic Silver medalist will run in both the 100-meter and 200-meter dashes in the Olympics.
While quite a few Iowans competed in the trials, just a few are not headed to France after Saturday. Iowa’s Paige Magee will not advance in the Women’s 100-meter Hurdles after running 15.57 alongside Lolo Jones of Des Moines Roosevelt High School who ran 14.50. Jones formally was an Olympian in 2008 and 2012 and was one of the top competitors from Iowa. After the Women’s Long Jump Finals, Iowa State’s Sydney Willits, jumped 20-0 1/2 and will not advance to the Olympic team. Finally, Courtney Lindsey of Iowa Central Community College earned a 20.00 in the Men’s 200-meter Final and will not advance further.
The Olympic Trials finalize on Sunday will multiple competitors from Iowa alongside former Drake Relays Alumni. We will have all the results following those competitions right on our website at westerniowatoday.com.
(Information provided by Mike Mahon)
