June 24, 2008

Schedule of Events

2008 U.S. Olympic Trials Website

NORTHRIDGE, Calif. - Cal State Northridge track & field standouts Reindell Cole, Desirae Gonder and Thomas Ross will compete among the nation's best as the U.S. Olympic Trials get underway on June 27 in Eugene, Ore. The Olympic Trials, contested at the University of Oregon's Hayward Field, will run from June 27 through July 6.

Cole, a freshman from Las Vegas, Nev., is tied for the sixth-best mark in the men's long jump field at 8.17 meters. Cole, who earned All-America honors at the NCAA Championships in Des Moines, Iowa two weeks ago, is predicted to finish among the top five long jumpers according to TrackShark.com. He posted his career-best 26-9.75 (8.17) at the Steve Scott Invitational at UC Irvine on May 4 and is also the defending NCAA Indoor Champion.

Gonder, a sophomore from Bakersfield, Calif., will challenge the best jumpers in the nation in the women's high jump. Gonder became Cal State Northridge's first women's track & field All-American since 2004 when she finished fourth at the NCAA Championships. She comes into the trials with a career-best mark of 6-0.50 (1.84) which she set with her runner-up finish at the Big West Outdoor Championships in Northridge on May 17.

Ross, a senior from Converse, Texas will compete in the men's 110 meter hurdles. Competing against some of the finest hurdlers in the world, including former Cal State Northridge Assistant Coach Dominique Arnold (13.17), Ross comes in with a lifetime-best time of 13.65 which he ran at the Big West Outdoor Championships in Northridge on May 17.

Another former Matador, Frances Santin of the Santa Monica Track Club was forced to scratch from the women's 800 meters.

Cole will open the Olympic Trials on Friday, June 27 with long jump qualifying at 7:30 p.m. The men's long jump final is scheduled for Sunday, June 29 at 3:15 p.m.

Gonder and the women's high jump get underway on Monday, June 30 with the qualifying round beginning at 7:15 p.m. The women's high jump final is slated for Friday, July 4 at 7:30 p.m.

The men's 110 meter hurdles qualifying for Ross begins on Saturday, July 5 at 11:25 a.m. Men's quarterfinals will be at 1:45 p.m. and the semifinals and final are scheduled for Sunday, July 6. The semifinals at 3:35 p.m. followed by the final at 5:30 p.m.

The U.S. Olympic Trials will be carried by NBC as well as USA Network. Live coverage is as follows: (All times are Eastern; subject to change; check local listings)

June 28 12:00-1:00 a.m. USA

June 28 8:00-9:00 p.m. NBC

June 29 7:00-8:00 p.m. NBC

June 30 11:00 p.m.-1:00 a.m. USA

July 3 11:00 p.m.-1:00 a.m. USA

July 4 11:00 p.m.-1:00 a.m. USA

July 5 5:00-6:00 p.m. NBC

July 6 7:00-9:00 p.m. NBC

- GO MATADORS -