Eugene, Ore. - Three former Monmouth University track and field athletes, Tisifinee Taylor, Bobby Smith and Jon Kalnas are set to compete in the U.S. Olympic trials and hope to qualify for a chance to represent the United States in the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China.
Tisifinee Taylor, a 2007 graduate, enjoyed an illustrious career as a Hawk and looks to continue her success in the long jump on the international stage. Taylor received All-American honors after her senior season, becoming the first woman and fifth Monmouth athlete to attain such a nomination. The Most Outstanding Performer at the Northeast Conference Outdoor Championships, Taylor also finished fourth overall in the 2007 NCAA Outdoor Championships.
Tisifenee is ranked 13th is the U.S. with her best jump of 21'6.75” (6.57 meters) coming from last year when she was a senior captain for the NEC Champion women's team. She is the first female athlete in school history to earn NCAA Division I First Team All-America honors, as she finished fourtth at the NCAA Championships in the long jump last year. She trained with MU sprint coach Brian Hirshblond and jumps coach Devin Barry until October this year, and has been working with an elite group of jumpers in the Houston area since then.
“It was great that Tisifenee was able to hit the automatic qualifying mark for the Olympic Trials last year and not have to worry about that this spring,” said head coach Joe Compagni.
“She earned some valuable experience at the U.S. Championships last summer (where she finished 13th) and the women's long jump is a very wide-open event at this year's Olympic Trials.”
Taylor will compete Monday, June 30 at 7:05 PM (10:05 PM EST) in the qualifying round. If she is among the top 12 competitors, she will advance to the finals on Thursday July 3 at 7:20 PM (10:20 PM EST).
Bobby Smith looks to compete in the javelin at Beijing. The 2005 graduate became the fourth All-American in Monmouth history that same year, shattering the school record with a monstrous 229'7” throw at the NCAA Regional his senior season, which helped him achieve fifth place and a nod as an All-East Regional nominee. Smith also claimed not only an NEC Javelin title, but became the second Hawk to win an IC4A title in their respective sport.
Smith is ranked 10th in the U.S. this year. After recording a personal best of 240'8” as a senior in college in 2006, Smith threw 247' 7” (75.46 meters) at the Tucson Elite Throwers meet at the University of Arizona last month to earn a spot in the Trials.
“Bobby has been training in California with a friend of Coach Abe Flores for most of the last two years, He has put everything else on hold for the chance to qualify for and compete at the Olympic Trials,” said Compagni. “He was a great example of a very successful two-sport athlete here at Monmouth and has reached a new level this year.”
Bobby will compete on Friday July 4 at 5:30 PM (8:30 PM EST). The top 12 competitors from Friday move on to the finals on Sunday July 6, which will be at 4:15 Pm (7:15 PM EST).
Jon Kalnas, one of Monmouth's most distinguished shot-put throwers, hopes to continue his prowess across the Pacific Ocean. Kalnas is the only Hawk to ever attain multiple All-American distinctions. He earned All-American status during the 2000 and 2001 indoor season, with another nomination in the 2002 outdoor season. The six time NEC champion owns the five best throws in school history. Kalnas took home fourth place at the 2002 Outdoor Regional with a toss of 68'8?”. In addition to the shot-put, Kalnas also won an NEC title in the discus.
A 2002 Monmouth graduate, Kalnas earned all-America honors Indoors in 2001 and 2002, and outdoors in 2002, finishing as high as 4th at the NCAA Championships and recording a collegiate best of 64' 6.5”.
He had the 12th best shot put indoors in the U.S. this year and was one of just 5 throwers invited to compete at the Millrose Games in February. After a successful college career and numerous national appearances, Kalnas is enjoying his best year ever in 2008. He is ranked 15th in the U.S. outdoors this year ? and ranked 37th in the world. His throw of 20.19 meters (66' 3”) last month at Princeton was a lifetime best.
The shot put is dominated by U.S. throwers, who own the top 3 performances in the world this year. Seven of the top 14 shot putters in the world are from the U.S., and all of them will be competing for one of the coveted top 3 spots at the Olympic Trials.
“Jon lives in Long Branch and has been training with Coach Flores here on campus on a regular basis,” said Compagni. “He has put in an amazing amount of work both in college and in the six years since he graduated. To get to a new level this year heading into the Trials is tremendous.”
Jon will compete on Friday at 9 PM (midnight EST). The top 12 competitors from Friday move on to Saturday's final, which will be at 4:45 Pm (7:45 PM EST).
“We are very proud to have three of our alumni competing at the U.S. Olympic Trials, and it is a great honor for our program,” said Compagni. “Jon, Bobby and Tisifenee have sacrificed a great deal to earn this opportunity, and they have had the support of their families and the Monmouth track & field family as they head to Eugene.” “The United States has the best track & field team in the world, and in some events the U.S. Olympic Trials are even more competitive than the Olympic Games.”
This year's Olympic trials are being held in Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon features more than 1,000 athletes all competing in a host of different events. The official US Olympic Team roster will be released on July 8.
