After 9 days of intense competition at Hayward field in Eugene, OR, the team that will represent USA track & field in Rio is now set.  The team his highlighted by athletes such as Justin Gatlin, and Allyson Felix.  Justin, who will be going to his 3rd Olympic games at the age of 34, won the 100m at the Athens games in 2004 and has had 2 phenomenal seasons on the world circuit.  Allyson will represent in the women’s 400m and is participating in her 4th Olympic games.

Other highlighted athletes include LaShawn Merritt, who will attempt a double in the men’s 200m and his specialty the 400m, Tori Bowie will represent in the women’s 100m and 200m, Brianna Rollins leads the way in the women’s 100m hurdles, 16 year old first time Olympian Sydney McLaughlin earns a spot in the women’s 400m hurdles, Kerron Clement makes his 3rd Olympic team in the men’s 400m hurdles, along with a host of other well deserving athletes.

While there was joy, like Bernard Lagat defying father time and making the men’s 5000m team at the ripe old age of 41, there was also some heartbreak.  The defending Olympic champ in the men’s 110m hurdles, Aries Merritt did not make the team.  He is 12 months removed from kidney transplant surgery and finished 4th in the final.  Keni Harrison, the current American record holder in the women’s 100m hurdles, also failed to make the team by finishing a disappointing 4th in the final.  Another shocker is defending women’s Olympic 400m champ Sanya Richards-Ross failed to make the team as well.  And in what is probably the biggest surprise of these trials, defending Olympic 200m champion, Allyson Felix fails to make the team in what most consider her better event, the women’s 200m.  While she will compete in the women’s 400m she finished 0.01 seconds behind 3rd place finisher Jenna Prandini.

Even with some of the surprises, there is a lot to look forward to in Rio.  Team USA has a very good mix of rookies and veterans.  I’m sure everyone is looking forward to the showdown in the men’s 100m between Gatlin and Usain Bolt, and LaShawn Merritt will look to avenge his loss to Kirani James in the men’s 400m.  Opening Ceremonies are August 5th.  LET THE GAMES BEGIN!!!