Mizera, 3 Former Flames Ready for U.S. Olympic Trials
6/16/2021 12:00:00 AM | Track and Field
U.S. Olympic Trials Information Central
Meet Schedule (Times Listed are Pacific)
TV Schedule
Liberty's Makenzy Mizera will compete in the women's triple jump during her first appearance at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Track & Field, which get started Friday at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore. Mizera will be joined in Eugene by former Liberty standouts Sam Chelanga (men's 10K), Darrel Jones (men's triple jump) and Carson Waters (men's pole vault).
The top three athletes in each event will qualify for the Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan, provided they have met the qualifying standard. Track & field events in Tokyo will span July 30-Aug. 8.
Former Flame Alejandro Perlaza Zapata has already qualified for Tokyo. He will represent Colombia in the men's 400 and 4 x 400 relay during his second Summer Olympics appearance.
How to Follow the Flames and Lady Flames
More than 20 hours of the Olympic Trials will be televised live on NBC and NBCSN.
Live video streaming coverage of the field events will be available on NBCOlympics.com and the NBC Sports app.
Live results will also be available, courtesy of Flash Results.
Weather Report
Eugene's weather forecast shows much warmer temperatures than the damp, chilly conditions during the recent NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships. The high is expected to reach the 80s during every day of the Trials, including highs in the low 90s on June 20 and 21. Very little precipitation is expected during the Trials.
About the Facility
Hayward Field has been completely reconstructed since it hosted the 2016 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Track & Field, in preparation for next summer's World Championships.
The track & field-only stadium features 12,650 permanent seats, expandable to 25,000.
The original Hayward Field, which stood in the same location on Oregon's campus, was built in 1919. The iconic venue played host to six U.S. Olympic Trials and 16 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
Sam Chelanga captured the men's 10K national title at the 2010 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships at Hayward Field. Darrel Jones closed out his collegiate career by triple jumping at the 2018 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Eugene. Jones has competed at the new Hayward Field, placing fourth in the men's triple jump at the Oregon Relays on April 24.
U.S. Olympic Trials Event Capsules (Organized Chronologically)
Women's Triple Jump
Event Schedule: Qualifying – June 18 at 9:15 p.m. Eastern, Final – June 20 at 8:55 p.m. Eastern
Liberty Competitor: Makenzy Mizera
Outlook: Mizera qualified for the Olympic Trials thanks to her indoor program-record 42-8 triple jump at the Bob Pollock Invitational, Jan. 30 in Clemson, S.C. She also triple jumped an outdoor program-record 42-6 on May 15 while finishing second to fellow Olympic Trials qualifier Adja Sackor of Jacksonville at the ASUN Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
Mizera, a junior from Maryville, Mo., has experienced success at previous USATF events. She placed seventh in the triple jump at the 2019 USATF U20 Outdoor Championships with a Liberty freshman-record 41-2.25 leap. Mizera also came in seventh at the 2020 USATF Indoor Championships with a then Liberty-record 41-10.75 effort.
The Olympic standard in the women's triple jump is 46-11.75.
Men's 10K
Event Schedule: Final – June 18 at 10:25 p.m. Eastern
Liberty Competitor: Sam Chelanga
Outlook: Chelanga, a 2011 Liberty graduate, qualified for the Olympic Trials with a 27:42.02 10K clocking at the Track Meet, May 14 in Irvine, Calif. This will be Chelanga's second time running the 10K at the U.S. Olympic Trials. He previously placed sixth in 2016 and is seeking his first Olympic qualification.
Chelanga was the most decorated student-athlete in program history. He captured four national titles (two cross country, two track & field) and was a 14-time All-American. Chelanga's 27:08.39 10K from May 1, 2010 still stands as his personal best and the NCAA all-time record for the event.
If Chelanga hopes to qualify for the Olympics, he will not only need to finish inside the top three but will also need to clock a time faster than 27:28.00.
Men's Pole Vault
Event Schedule: Qualifying – June 19 at 7:30 p.m. Eastern, Final – June 21 at 6:30 p.m. Eastern
Liberty Competitor: Carson Waters
Outlook: Waters will be competing in his first USATF event since placing 10th at the 2020 USATF Indoor Championships with an 18-6.5 clearance. He also placed sixth at the 2019 USATF Outdoor Championships.
A 2018 Liberty graduate, Waters captured four Big South pole vault titles during his time as a Flame. The St. Petersburg Beach, Fla., native's top collegiate clearance measured 17-5.
The Olympic standard in the men's pole vault is 19-0.25. Twelve of the 24 entrants in the Olympic Trials have already hit the Olympic standard.
Men's Triple Jump
Event Schedule: Qualifying – June 19 at 8:15 p.m. Eastern, Final – June 21 at 7:40 p.m. Eastern
Liberty Competitor: Darrel Jones
Outlook: Jones qualified for his first Olympic Trials with a 53-1.5 leap at the 2019 World University Games in Italy. This will be the sixth consecutive USATF national championship (indoor and outdoor) Jones has appeared in, dating back to 2018. His top national finish to date has been a sixth-place showing at the 2019 USATF Indoor Championships.
A 2018 Liberty graduate, Jones was a four-time Big South men's triple jump champion. The native of Monroe, N.Y., owns the Liberty indoor triple jump record of 51-0 and qualified for the 2018 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
The Olympic standard in the men's triple jump is 56-2.75.
