Another Three Dogs Make It To Next Rounds At Trials

EUGENE, Ore. --- One current and a pair of former Georgia competitors advanced to the next round in their respective events at the U.S. Olympic Track & Field Trials at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore., on Friday.

Sophomore Matthew Boling was second in his heat of the 200-meter dash opening round to automatically qualify for the semifinals.  Former Bulldog All-American Keenon Laine posted two first-attempt clearances in the first round of the high jump to make it to the next round.  Lynna Irby, who won an NCAA outdoor 400m title for the Lady Bulldogs, also grabbed the eighth and final qualifying spot for the 200m final.

On Thursday, former NCAA long jump champion Keturah Orji qualified for the final in the long jump after soaring to the eighth-best distance of the day.  Morgann Leleux, who last earned All-America honors in 2015, made it to the pole vault final.

Four U.S. Bulldogs have already punched their tickets.  This past Sunday, Orji set a meet record in the triple jump to win the U.S. title while current sophomore Jasmine Moore cruised into third place to qualify for her first Olympics after a sensational collegiate season.

Former Georgia champion Garrett Scantling exploded for a career-high 8,647 points to win the American championship and earn his first trip to the Games after finishing one spot out of qualifying in 2016.  Also, junior Elija Godwin was sixth in the 400m final last weekend with a 44.94.  He was named as a relay leg for Team USA earlier this week.

Eleven current Bulldogs and eight former Georgia standouts will compete in their home country's Trials on June 18-27.  The top three finishers in each event at the Trials will advance to the Olympic Games in Tokyo on July 23-August 8, barring they have the standard mark/time necessary in their event.

Boling, a native of Houston, Texas, sped to a 20.47 to be second in his heat to automatically qualify for the semifinal.  Taking ninth overall in the opening round, Boling will now race again on Saturday at 10:33 p.m. ET.

Laine, a native of Versailles, Ky., opened by clearing 7 feet, ¼ inch on his first try and then went over the bar cleanly at a season-best height of 7-2.25, which put him in the top 12 qualifiers.  He will jump in the final for a shot at going to Tokyo on Sunday at 4:30 p.m.

Also of note, senior Darius Carbin qualified for the high jump but did not compete because of an injury.

Irby, a native of Indianapolis, Ind., was fifth in the opening heat of the 200m semifinal, but managed to take eighth overall to advance to the final with a season-best time of 22.45.  Irby will now race in the final at 10:24 p.m. on Saturday.

Also on Saturday, two current heptathletes – Anna Hall and Asya Reynolds – and one former heptathlete and former three-time NCAA champion in the event (Kendell Williams) will start their seven events at 4:15 p.m.

Results and recaps from the Trials will be found at georgiadogs.com.  News and updates from Georgia's track and field and cross country teams are always located on Twitter/Instagram at @UGATrack.

Another Three Dogs Make It To Next Rounds At Trials

Players Mentioned

Matthew Boling

Darius Carbin

Elija Godwin

Anna Hall

Jasmine Moore

Asya Reynolds

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