The Nebraska track and field team's quest to qualify for the Paris Olympics continues after the U.S. Olympic Team Trials, held Monday in Eugene, Oregon.
Darius Ruff, a Lincoln native and Lincoln High School graduate, placed third in the first-round qualifying round of the boys' 110-meter hurdles to qualify for Thursday's semifinals. The senior from Nebraska finished in 13.33 seconds, slower than the 13.19 he ran to win the NCAA outdoor championships on the same track.
Ruff placed just outside the top 10 fastest time of the day, behind leader Grant Holloway's 12.92 seconds. Ruff's next run will be at 7pm CDT.
Meanwhile, Husker High School high jumper Jenna Rogers' Olympic dream was dashed as she took the bronze medal after losing in the jump-off to Vashti Cunningham, a veteran of the U.S. team and competing in her third Olympic Games.
Rogers stumbled on his first attempt at 5-10, but bounced back with three clear attempts at 6-0, 6-2, and 6-3 1/4. He set a new personal best on his final attempt to qualify for the jump-off, but fell on his third attempt at 6-4 1/4. Cunningham also fell short of the standard, but won with the fewest attempts.
Nebraska will have three athletes competing in Thursday's competition in Eugene: Tyus Wilson in the boys' high jump preliminaries, Ruff in the 110-meter hurdles semifinals and Garrett Carlund in the boys' 200-meter first round.
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