Rollins, Americans Ready to Roll in Rio

By Erik Boal, DyeStatCAL Editor

Call it Brianna Rollins: Reloaded.

After achieving her greatest triumph as a Clemson student-athlete on the same Hayward Field track in 2013 when she won the NCAA title in the women's 100-meter hurdles and set the all-time collegiate record of 12.39 seconds, Rollins rebounded from two disappointing outdoor seasons to return Friday to the historic venue in Eugene at the U.S. Olympic Trials and regain her status as national champion.

Rollins, now 24 and competing for Nike, clocked 12.34 to win the fastest trials final in history, just missing Gail Devers' meet record of 12.33 from 2000.

Kristi Castlin was second in 12.50 and two-time World Indoor 60-meter hurdles champion Nia Ali placed third in 12.55, as the No. 2 through No. 7 finishers all posted the best times for their respective positions in a trials championship heat.

It was the second-fastest wind-legal performance of Rollins' career, trailing only her 12.26 from the 2013 U.S. Nationals in Iowa, which stood as the American record until Keni Harrison lowered the standard to 12.24 with the world's No. 2 all-time performance May 28 at the Prefontaine Classic at Hayward Field.

"When I got to the finish line and realized I was the first one to cross, I was so overwhelmed and so excited, and I was finally able to relax and start to prepare myself for the road to Rio," Rollins said. "I've just tried to continue to stay the course. We all have some ups and downs, but I've just tried to stay focused and continue to work hard and not get discouraged from the two years I was down. Right now, I'm back on top and I'm just so grateful for God for getting me here."

Rollins' performance was faster than every Olympic gold medalist since the event was first introduced in 1972, just ahead of the winning mark of 12.35 by Australia's Sally Pearson four years ago in London.

It was also her best mark since winning the 2013 World title in 12.44 in Moscow. Rollins hadn't produced a wind-legal mark better than 12.53 since, placing fifth at the 2014 U.S. Nationals and fourth at last year's World Championships, when the Americans failed to make the medal podium.

"We all have to go through a few things to help us grow and to help us get to that next level and to where we want to be," Rollins said. "I feel like during those times in my downs, I grew and I gained a lot of perspective on this sport. Right now, I'm just living in the moment and I'm going to continue to work hard and praise God and just enjoy everything."

In addition to euphoria and satisfaction, there was a sense of relief from Rollins and fellow first-time Olympians Castlin and Ali, especially considering the collection of talented athletes that wouldn't be representing the U.S. in Rio de Janeiro later this summer.

At the top of that list is Keni Harrison, a member of the American roster at last year's World Championships, who placed sixth in 12.62.

Harrison, a former Kentucky standout, had run the fastest time by any athlete in the world since Rollins' 12.26 three years ago and was responsible for the four fastest times globally this season entering the final, sparking discussion of her possibly challenging the 1988 world record of 12.21 by Bulgaria's Yordanka Donkova.

Instead, after running 12.91 in a driving rainstorm in the semifinals, Harrison struggled out of the blocks in the final and never challenged for a medal.

"It's always inspiring when someone can do something like that. I mean 12.24 is crazy, but like (Brianna) said we're training to do the same thing," said Ali, who ran her fastest time since a lifetime-best 12.48 when she also placed third behind Rollins at the 2013 U.S. Nationals.

"We're not focusing on how fast someone is going or what they're doing. You definitely can't give away spots, you're going out there to win and that's all that matters. Like my coach (Ryan Wilson) told me 'If you're going out there to get top three, that's the easiest way to get fourth,' so you need to go out there and go for the win. You know everyone out there can do it, so why can't it be you?"

Queen Harrison, last year's Pan Am gold medalist and a 2008 Olympian, placed fourth in 12.57.

Sharika Nelvis, who ran at last year's World Championships and has won both NCAA indoor and outdoor hurdles titles, finished fifth in 12.60.

Former Central Florida star Jackie Coward was seventh in 12.75 and last year's national indoor champion Jasmin Stowers, who has a Diamond League victory on her career resume, fell over the last hurdle and finished eighth in 17.13.

In all, four of the 20 fastest women in history didn't make the podium in the trials final, five if you count 2008 Olympic gold medalist and 2012 silver medalist Dawn Harper Nelson, who ran 13.01 missed the cutoff to advance out of the semifinals by one-hundredth of a second behind Nelvis.

"We just closed out the basketball season and we saw all those games that Golden State won and they got to the championship and they couldn't close it out," Castlin said. "Often in sports, there are exhibition games and when we go to these races, it's just an exhibition, it's just one race. A lot of times with Brianna and I, with these races we would go to, we wouldn't have fresh legs and we were training really hard and our coach was really preparing us for this moment. You can't think about how fast someone ran in this race or that race, you have to believe in your preparation and stay your course."

For Rollins, remaining on course and believing in the process despite a difficult past two years, not only has her on track to challenge for the top of the podium in Rio but possibly lead an American medal sweep with Castlin and Ali, as the U.S. looks to become the first country to achieve the feat in the 100 hurdles.

"I'm always motivated. No matter what time anyone runs, I just continue to remained focused on myself and continue to focus on the race and remember the hard work I've put in and all the sacrifices I have made," Rollins said. "The American team is the hardest to make and as long as we believe in ourselves and execute our races, hopefully we can all be on the podium together."