Results
EUGENE, Ore. – High Point University track & field All-American
Christine Rickert wrapped up a memorable U.S. Olympic Trials debut Saturday with a berth in the javelin final at historic Hayward Field.
Rickert placed 12
th in the event with a top throw of 48.39m (158-9). She advanced to Saturday's final with an outstanding performance on Thursday in the preliminary.
"Making the finals of the Olympic Trials in your first trip is quite the accomplishment," HPU associate head coach
Scott Hall said. "Only five collegians made the final and that's a testament to Chrissy's hard work. Today wasn't her best, but it's her first competitive experience with a day of rest instead of the traditional week in college. The winds were difficult and the field was throwing 2-4 meters under their typical attempts. Overall, it's been a great learning experience for Chrissy and I think you'll see today's results motivate her and pay dividends in the long run with her training."
The berth in the U.S. Olympic Trials final marked a first for HPU track & field and capped a momentous senior campaign for Rickert. The Lancaster, Pa., product garnered USTFCCCA second team All-America accolades and was named a CoSIDA Academic All-American for her superior efforts on the field and in the classroom.
She won her third-straight Big South title in the javelin and garnered the first Big South Scholar-Athlete of the Year accolade of her career in May. Rickert also broke her own Big South record with a throw of 52.47m (172-2) at the VertKlasse Meeting in April.
Rickert's career is far from over, as the NCAA Woman of the Year nominee will return to the Triad for a post-collegiate year of training and volunteer coaching with the HPU track & field program. She will continue to pursue a professional track & field career beginning this fall.
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