Jonas Earns Spot on U.S. Olympic Squad

Eugene, Ore. -- Despite a bleak outlook after failing to advance past 7-4 ?, former Husker Dusty Jonas made the best of a second chance as he won a jumpoff for the third and final spot on the U.S. Olympic high jump team. With a win in the jumpoff, Jonas will head to <?xml:namespace prefix="st1" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"?>Beijing to represent the United States in August. <?xml:namespace prefix="o" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"?>

 

Jonas officially finished the U.S. Olympic Trials in a tie for sixth place with two other competitors. Five other jumpers topped the 7-4 ? bar, leaving Jonas to wait out a decision on the finals spots. 

 

“In this meet, there is always some chance (at gaining a roster spot) if there is not a ridiculous amount of people jumping over high bars,” Jonas said. “That chance was probably lower than the chance of making the team.”

 

Jonas was right as only two of the competitors ahead of him had previously reached the United States Track and Field Association “A” standard this year. Jesse Williams won the event outright to earn a spot on the Olympic team with a jump of 7-6 ? while Andra Mason tied for second at 7-5 ? to wrap up another U.S. Team spot. Both Williams and Manson, who compete for Team Nike, have reached the “A” standard earlier in the season.

Jamie Nieto tied Mason for second place by clearing the bar at 7-5 ?, but had not previously reached the “A” standard. Because he had not met both USATF qualifications, the next athlete to reach the “A” standard would be named to the third and final spot. Neither the fourth nor fifth place competitors had reached the elite “A” standard this year either, but in the sixth-place tie, both Jonas and KansasState jumper Scott Sellers had topped the mark. Jonas actually had the highest jump in the world this year when he cleared 7-8 ? to win the Big 12 Outdoor title in Boulder, Colo., in May.

“I was pretty disappointed,” Jonas said of his first effort. “That would have been my lowest jump all year for me. I was glad for that second chance. God had something to say today I think. He gave me a second chance and I took advantage of it.”

 

Jonas and Sellers faced a one-on-one jumpoff, matching two of the top collegiate jumpers this season. Jonas came away victorious to earn the final high jump spot on the 2008 U.S. Olympic roster.  

 

“It was one of those things where it was do or die,” Jonas said. “I don’t know what I was thinking really. I am just really lucky. I figured Scott [Sellers] is a great jumper, so I better clear this.

“I knew in my head who the people who had the “A” standard were. I just didn’t know how to handle the situation. Scott and myself were asking how this worked and since there was a tie for second, they jumped off those guys. Then there was the next “A” standard person to go, so we had to jump off for that. I didn’t find out almost until the officials did. It is one of those things were you think it might happen (a jumpoff), so you stay loose and stay warmed up.”

 

Despite the nerves, Jonas performed brilliantly, earning a chance to represent his country.

“I was aware (that each member needed to have an “A” standard) but I didn’t know how they were going to handle it,” Jonas said. “When I figured out they were going to have a jump off, I was pretty excited to be able to get that chance.”