The Olympic dream ended for one former UT athlete today, but still flickers for two more locals.
Garland Porter improved his hammerthrows and position from 12th four years ago to seventh in today's trials, but still did not make the U.S. Olympic team. Kevin Becker, who trains here in Knoxville was 12th and also missed the squad.
Swimmer Micahel Wright is still alive for Sunday's finals in the men's 3 meter springboard, but he'll need a lot of help to make the team. Wright is 12th after the semifinals.
Victoria Lamp is a little closer to a spot. She finished fifth in the women's platform dive.
Both Wright and Lamp will compete on Sunday.
Here is more on Porter from the University of Tennessee:
The 2012 U.S. Track & Field Olympic Trials got under way Thursday in Oregon. While the rest of the nine-day event will be contested at Hayward Field in Eugene, day one's sole focus was on the hammer throw competitions held at the Nike World Headquarters.
Taking part in an event promoted as "Hammertime" to give more attention to the implement and its throwers, former Tennessee All-American Garland Porter stepped into the cage for his second Olympic Trials appearance. After finishing 12th in 2008, he wound up seventh this time around, carding a toss of 232 feet, 11 inches with his fifth attempt.
Kevin Becker, a graduate teaching assistant at Tennessee who, like Porter, trains with Tennessee throws coach John Frazier, placed 11th with an effort of 223-2. He was 20th at the 2008 Trials.
VOLS/FORMER VOLS AT U.S. OLYMPIC TRIALS
Thurs., June 21
Hammer Throw Final: 7. Garland Porter, 232-11/71.01m