Waltz moves on to discus finals

EUGENE, Ore. - Former Post Falls High standout Ian Waltz placed fifth in the men's discus preliminaries at the U.S. Olympic Trials on Monday, recording a 61.30 meter throw in his first attempt. Lance Brooks leads the event with a 64.80, Russ Winger's 62-61 was good enough for second, and Jarred Rome is in third with a 61.84 toss.

The top 12 advance to the men's discus finals on Thursday.

Struggling with his rhythm in a persistent rain, high jumper Jesse Williams' spot on the team for London appeared to be washing away.

The reigning world champion bowed out of the competition in fourth place.

Only the top three earn spots to the Olympics - unless someone doesn't make the Olympic "A'' standard. And someone did indeed fail to hit that mark, third-place finisher Nick Ross.

Like that, Williams backed his way onto the team in an event that Jamie Nieto won and Erik Kynard took second.

It wasn't the way Williams wanted to make the squad. He vowed to train more in the rain, especially because this just might be the type of weather he encounters in London.

Nick Symmonds won his fifth straight U.S. title in the 800 meters by winning in 1 minute, 43.92 seconds.

Symmonds earns a spot on the U.S. team for the London Games with runner-up Khadevis Robinson,

who finished in 1:44.64, and Duane Solomon, who finished in 1:44.65.

Symmonds, a local favorite who went to Division III Willamette University and runs for the Oregon Track Club elite, started far back in the pack but surged into the lead in the final 100 meters for the win.

Amanda Smock won the triple jump at 45 feet, 9 inches for a spot on the Olympic team.

Smock was the only athlete in the field with the Olympic "A'' standard of 46-11, so she will be the lone representative on the U.S. team for the event at the London Games.

Sheena Gordon was second at the trials at 45-4, and Andrea Geubelle was third at 45-3.

Erica McLain, a two-time U.S. outdoor champion who was coming off a severe ankle injury early in 2011, finished eighth.

Sam Humphreys won the javelin with a throw of 268 feet, 7 inches, but he doesn't make the Olympic team because he doesn't have the required "A'' standard.

Runner-up Sam Crouser, with a throw of 265-01, also failed to make the team because he hadn't thrown the standard of 269 feet this season.

The United States will be represented in the London Games by Craig Kinsley, Sean Furey and Cyrus Hostetler, who all have the standard.

Kinsley finished third with a throw of 262-02. Furey was fourth with 255-05, and Hostetler was fifth with 254-08.

Alysia Montano won the 800 meters in 1 minute, 59.08 seconds at the U.S. track trials to make the team.

Geena Gall was second in 1:59.24, and Alice Schmidt was third in 1:59.46 for the two other spots on the U.S. team for the London Games.

Montano, a three-time U.S. champion, led wire-to-wire while wearing her trademark flower in her hair.

Maggie Vessey, runner-up to Montano at the U.S. outdoor championships for the past two seasons, finished last in the field in 2:03.44.