Five Bobcats to Compete This Week for Team USA Spots at Olympic Trials
6/20/2024 3:02:00 PM | Men's Track and Field, Women's Track and Field
Rob McManus and Ben Perrin join former MSU standouts Duncan Hamilton, Derrick Olsen, and Drake Schneider at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, looking for glory on national stage
BOZEMAN, Mont. -- Under the bright lights of the 2024 United States Olympic Team Trials beginning Friday night, five current and former Montana State track and field athletes will take to Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, competing for the chance to represent their country with Team U.S.A at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.
Rob McManus and Ben Perrin, who just wrapped up a collegiate season in which they earned a haul of medals while leading the Cats to their first men's outdoor track and field title since 2005, will descend upon Eugene alongside three former teammates in Duncan Hamilton ('23), Derrick Olsen ('22), and Drake Schneider ('22).
Montana State director of track and field and cross country Lyle Weese is familiar with the stage his athletes will take this week, having competed in the steeplechase at the 2004, 2008, and 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials.
"It is exciting to be well-represented at another significant meet," Weese said. "This time, with three former and two current Bobcats. Drake, Derrick, and Duncan did incredible things in their time at MSU and Rob and Ben are current Bobcats that can take this experience forward with them and back to teammates."
McManus and Hamilton will kick things off on Friday, June 21, in the first round of the 3,000 meter men's steeplechase.
The duo, who have combined for the last five Big Sky titles in the event and own five All-American honors in the steeplechase between them, will both race in Heat 1 of 2 at 4:49 p.m. PT/5:49 p.m. MT. The race will be televised on USA Network and stream on Peacock.
The top five finishers from each heat plus the next four fastest times will advance to Sunday night's 3,000 meter steeplechase final at 7:07 p.m. PT/8:07 p.m. MT on NBC and Peacock.
McManus is returning to Hayward Field for the second time this month after placing 13th at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships, earning Second Team All-American honors.
Hamilton, who runs professionally for Nike's Bowerman Track Club, was the NCAA runner-up in the steeplechase in Eugene in 2022 and in Austin in 2023. The Bozeman native has run the 13th-fastest time among entries in the field, and is ranked sixth among Americans this year according to World Athletics.
Perrin will compete in the final of the men's 10,000 meters on Friday night at 7:27 p.m. PT/8:27 p.m. MT. The race will be televised on NBC and stream live on Peacock.
Perrin, a senior from Kalispell, Montana, holds the 18th fastest time among the field of 30 athletes (28:09.73). The two-time Big Sky champion in the 10,000 meters is a 13-time All-Conference honoree and ranks in the top-four in program history in three outdoor events and three indoor events, including holding the school record in the indoor 5,000 meters.
On Monday, June 24, alum Derrick Olsen ('22) will compete in the first round of the men's 110 meter hurdles. Olsen, who runs for will be in Heat 3 of 4, with the first heat getting started at 5:05 p.m. PT/6:05 p.m. MT on Peacock. The top six finishers from each heat plus the next three fastest times advance to the semifinals on Thursday, June 27.
On Thursday, June 27, alum Drake Schneider ('22) will compete in the first round of the men's 400 meter hurdles at 6:20 p.m. PT/7:20 p.m. MT. The race will be televised on USA Network and streamed live on Peacock. The top five finishers in each heat plus the next two fastest times advance to the semifinals on Friday, June 28.
Schneider, the MSU school record-holder in the event, holds the 13th-fastest mark in the field of 34 (49.59). The Bobcat legend placed sixth at the 2022 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Eugene two years ago.
#GoCatsGo
Players Mentioned
