It is not uncommon to see former and current LSU track standouts at Olympic Trials around the world this time of the year.
LSU coach Dennis Shaver expects at least 12 athletes to compete in several trials during the coming months in preparation for the 2008 Olympics, which begin Aug. 8 in Beijing, China.
“I would say by the time Beijing rolls around we’ll have probably anywhere from 12 to 16 people there,” Shaver said. “We’ve got quite a few people from various different countries that I think have a great shot at being in Beijing, but more importantly have a great shot at doing something impressive.”
Shaver is currently in Eugene, Ore., at the U.S. Olympic Trials, where at least nine current and former LSU athletes are expected to compete June 27 through July 6.
Current LSU athletes at the trials include junior Trindon Holliday, sophomore LaTavia Thomas and senior Juanita Broaddus.
Holliday will compete in the men’s 100-meter dash. He ranks fourth among American men in 2008 with a time of 10.05 seconds.
Broaddus will also compete in the 100-meter dash, and ranks 14th among American women in 2008.
Thomas is 14th among American women with a 2 minute, 3.22 second-time in the 800-meter run.
“The key [for them] is just getting through all of the rounds … to where you still have a lot of energy left when you run the final,” Shaver said. “I think it’s just how everybody deals with the stresses that go along with making the Olympic team, where you have to have to be in the top three.”
Former Tigers vying for Olympic spots include former NCAA champions Xavier Carter and Muna Lee.
Carter made headlines in 2006 when he became the first athlete since Jesse Owens in 1936 to win four events at the NCAA Outdoor National Championships.
He won the 100- and 400-meter dashes and ran on the Tigers’ champion 4×100 and 4×400-meter relays.
Lee is one of the most decorated athletes in LSU track and field history with seven national championships and 20 All-American honors.
She finished second in the 100- and 200-meter dashes at the NCAA Outdoor Championships in 2003 and 2004 and ran on the Lady Tigers’ national champion 4×100-meter relay.
Another former LSU star to watch is hurdler Lolo Jones, who won the 60-meter hurdles March 8 at the 2008 World Indoor Championships.
Other former Tigers at the U.S. Trials include Stephanie Durst (100- and 200-meter dash), Walter Davis (long jump and triple jump) and Derrick Brew (400-meter dash).
“Many of them are still coached by us here at LSU,” Shaver said. “To us, it’s just another track meet.”
LSU already has international representation set for the 29th Olympiad in Beijing.
LSU seniors Kelly-Ann Baptiste and Richard Thompson punched their tickets to the 2008 Olympics with their recent performances in the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Trials.
Baptiste won the women’s 100-meter dash, and Thompson finished second on the men’s side Saturday.
Shaver said it is “too early to say” what Baptiste and Thompson’s chances at the Olympics are.
“Both of them will be ranked in the top 10 in the world,” Shaver said. “If they can perform well in that meet, their chances of making the final at the Olympic Games are very good.”
Sophomore Jamaal James finished third in the 800-meter run in the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Trials but has not fully qualified for the Games.
Athletes must finish in the top three in their respective trials as well as reach the Olympic “A” qualifying standard to qualify for the Olympics.
James has not met the “A” standard and has until July 23 to reach it.
The Jamaican Olympic Trials begin Friday and feature two LSU athletes who have won NCAA 400-meter hurdles championships.
Reigning women’s champion Nickiesha Wilson is among the favorites to make the Jamaican squad. But Shaver said former men’s champion Isa Phillips will have a tougher time.
“That’s just an event in Jamaica that they’ve got a lot of not only quality performers but a lot of depth,” Shaver said.
Shaver said sophomore sprinter Samantha Henry has a chance to make the Jamaican team as an alternate for the sprint relays.
—-Contact Robert Stewart at [email protected]