Wake Forest Athletics
Lincoln Qualifies for U.S. Olympic Trials in Javelin
6/21/2012 12:00:00 AM | Men's Track and Field
June 21, 2012
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Wake Forest junior Ben Lincoln has qualified for the 2012 U.S. Track & Field Olympic Trials in the javelin throw, which will be held this Saturday at 3:30 p.m. EST in Eugene, Oregon.
Also representing Wake Forest at the Olympic Trials will be volunteer assistant coaches Chris Helwick and Joanna Schultz. Helwick will compete in the men's decathlon on Friday and Saturday, while Schultz will compete in the qualifying round of the 400 meter hurdles on June 28 at 8:30 p.m. EST. The finals of the 400 meter hurdles, which feature the top eight finishers from the qualifying round, will take place on July 1 at 7 p.m. EST.
The U.S. Olympic Track & Field Team Trials return to The University of Oregon's Hayward Field, site of the '72, '76, '80 and '08 Olympic Trials. The event serves as the largest national championship track meet in the world, hosting more than 1,000 athletes as they compete for a spot on the USA roster at the Olympic Games in London.
Under the guidance of throws coach Zeb Sion, Lincoln has broken his own school record in the javelin twice this season, with the current top mark standing at 240-3 (73.23 meters). Breaking the school record helped Lincoln surpass the qualifying standard of 70 meters required for the Olympic Trials.
"Ben and I are extremely excited about traveling to Eugene for the Olympic Trials," said Sion. `It is icing on the cake at the end of a long and successful season for Ben and the Wake Forest throwers. I know Ben is ready to represent himself and Wake Forest at a high level, while also having fun competing against the best athletes in the United States."
Lincoln finished third overall at the ACC Championship to earn All-ACC honors for the third straight season, and he placed 10th at the NCAA East Regional en route to advancing to the NCAA Championship for the second consecutive season. The Hingham, Mass., native went on to earn Honorable Mention All-America honors after placing 18th at the NCAA Championship.
Lincoln enters the event ranked 22nd overall among a field of 24 competitors. Each thrower in the field will be given three attempts on Saturday, and the top 12 throwers from the day will then advance to the final round of competition on Monday at 9 p.m. EST.
Lincoln is one of just nine collegiate throwers to qualify for the Olympic Trials in the javelin, and one of just two athletes from the Atlantic Coast Conference to make the event, along with Virginia's Andy Fahringer. Lincoln is also the first thrower from Wake Forest to compete in the Olympic Trials while currently in school since Andy Bloom finished fourth as a senior in the discus in 1996.
Players Mentioned
