Mackey Finishes Ninth As Trials Wrap Up
July 01, 2012 | Track & Field
July 1, 2012
EUGENE, Ore. - The U.S. Olympic Track & Field Trials came to a close today at Hayward Field, save for a much-talked-about 100-meter dash run-off. The last Husky in action was eight-time All-American Katie (Follett) Mackey, who took ninth in the 1,500-meter run finals.
The NBC announcers called today's final "quite simply the best field ever assembled in this event." A number of the runners on the track have international medals in their collection, including reigning World Championships gold medalist Jenny Simpson.
Mackey, the Washington school record-holder at this distance, was in good position throughout, tucking onto the rail in about fourth-place for the early laps. But on the last lap, she said afterwards that she didn't quite feel her usual pop, and she could not keep up with the big finishing kick of the leaders. Morgan Uceny, ranked No. 1 in the world last year, got the win in 4:04.59, followed by Team USA veterans Shannon Rowbury and Simpson.
Mackey finished ninth in 4:11.46. It was the Brooks athlete's second consecutive U.S. final at the distance.
With all said and done at the Trials, it will be the same two former Huskies heading to the London Olympics as went to the last games in Beijing. Brad Walker won the pole vault to make his second Olympic Team, and Aretha Thurmond was second in the discus to make her fourth team, the most by any UW athlete in any sport.
