BEAVERTON, Ore. – Amber Campbell had a meet-record throw of 235 feet, 6 inches in the hammer at the Olympic track and field trials Thursday to earn a spot on the U.S. team in London.

Amanda Bingson, who just wrapped up her senior year at UNLV, threw just shy of Campbell’s mark to reach the Olympic “A” standard and make the team, along with third-place finisher Jessica Cosby at 232-2.

Kibwe Johnson won the men’s hammer with a throw of 245-11. A.G. Kruger, who finished third with a throw of 242-6, also will represent the United States.

Second-place Chris Cralle, who threw 243-11, doesn’t yet have the Olympic “A” standard of 255-11 needed to qualify for the games. Both Johnson and Kruger had already met the mark.

The events were held at Nike’s headquarters, about 110 miles north of where the rest of the Olympic trials will start today at Eugene’s Hayward Field.

Keelin Godsey, a Bates College graduate who was vying to become the first transgender athlete to make the U.S. team, finished fifth in the women’s hammer at 231-3. Godsey was born a woman but identifies as a man.

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“That was my lifetime best,” Godsey said. “And I can’t ask for anything more than my best.”

Despite not making the team, Godsey, 28, was honored to be among the athletes in the event.

“I’ve still done more than many people who are trans have,” Godsey said. “I’ve competed at the highest level. I couldn’t be prouder.”

Campbell, who also competed in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, jumped up and down in the circle and squealed for joy after her long throw. At 71.80 meters, it just bested Bingson’s throw of 71.78 meters.

“I knew as soon as I let it go and I hit it that it was going to be a good one,” she said.

Cosby, who also competed in Beijing, was disappointed with her finish but happy to be among the top three for a spot on the Olympic team.

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“When you look at the big picture, I needed to finish in the top three and I did,” she said. “So I’m moving on.”

Bingson, coming off a third-place finish in the NCAA championships, was the biggest surprise. She did not have the “A” standard required to make the team going into the event.

Besides Campbell and Cosby, the only other competitor who went into the event with the “A” standard was Gwen Berry, who finished seventh.

Just 22, Bingson was elated.

“I have nothing else to compare it to,” she said, grasping a bouquet of flowers.

For the men, Johnson has competed in the hammer at two world championships but will be competing in his first Olympics.

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“I’ve been a starving hammer thrower for so long,” Johnson said.

“It’s good to make it.”

Johnson, who last year became the first American to break the 80-meter barrier since 2000, celebrated after his final throw by laying down on an image of the Olympic rings at the center of the hammer field.

“My grandparents have been to every Olympics since 1976, I think,” he said. “And now they get to see me there.”

Kruger is looking ahead to his third Olympics.

“Today I could feel myself. I was a little bit all over,” he said. “Thinking too much, I think.”

 


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