EUGENE, Ore. — The Opening Ceremony of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris is just over a month away, and quite a few athletes with western Washington ties will be competing for a spot at the upcoming U.S. Track Trials.
All of the events will be held just a few hours down Interstate 5 in Eugene, Ore. at the historic Hayward Field. Here are the local athletes to keep an eye on during the trials, which run from June 21-30.
Pole Vault
Amanda and Hana Moll, twin sisters who graduated from Olympia's Capital High School, will both be competing for a spot on the U.S. Olympic Team in the Pole Vault. Hana has the seventh-best mark of the competitors at the Olympic Trials (4.64 meters) While Amanda ranks 11th (4.53 meters). Hana also won the 2024 NCAA Indoor National Championship in the event for the University of Washington, where Amanda also competes.
High Jump
JaiCieonna Gero-Holt, formerly of Emerald Ridge High School in Puyallup, is among the top contenders for the High Jump. Her top height is 1.89 meters, putting her fourth among female competitors entering the Olympic Trials.
Hammer Throw
Brock Eager of Tahoma Senior High School enters the trials with the seventh-best distance of any Hammer Throw athlete in the U.S. Eager performed collegiately at Washington State University and was a second-team All-American during his time with the Cougars.
1,500 Meters
A trio of runners from the University of Washington will be among the field trying to represent the U.S. in the 1,500-meter race. Joseph Waskom, Nathan Green and Luke Houser all are Huskies, and Houser won the Indoor national title in the mile race in 2024.
Sam Ellis is also in the 1,500 field after having spent the 2022-23 seasons with the Huskies following a career at Princeton.
5,000 Meters
Lake Stevens High School product Taylor Roe will be attempting to qualify for her first Olympic Games down in Eugene. Roe competes at Oklahoma State University and finished second in the 2024 NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships.
