Four area Olympians to watch
Posted: Friday, August 01, 2008
Four to watch
Shawn Johnson
Gymnastics
Olympics: First games
Age: 16
Local connection: Lives in West Des Moines, Iowa
Chances: Very good. She was 2007 world champion and placed first at the Olympic Trials. Coach Martha Karolyi calls her "Kimbo No. 1," after Kim Zmeskal, another U.S. standout.
Lolo Jones
100 meter hurdles
Olympics: First games
Age: She'll turn 26 Aug. 5
Local connection: Des Moines is her home town.
Chances: Extremely good. She's a three-time national champion and has been smoking the competition all year long. She's a graduate of Louisiana State University.
Alfred "AG" Kruger
Hammer
Olympics: Second; he did not qualify for the finals in 2004.
Age: 29
Local connection: Hails from Sheldon, Iowa.
Chances: He's the only American to qualify in the hammer throw. That says other countries dominate the field. Still, he's determined to make the Top 10.
Derek Miles
Pole Vault
Olympics: Second.
Age: 35
Local connection: He graduated from the University of South Dakota in 1996 with a degree in history.
Chances: Miles finished seventh in Athens; hopes to move up in 2008. Currently, he's an academic adviser at Arkansas State University.
Shawn Johnson
Gymnastics
Olympics: First games
Age: 16
Local connection: Lives in West Des Moines, Iowa
Chances: Very good. She was 2007 world champion and placed first at the Olympic Trials. Coach Martha Karolyi calls her "Kimbo No. 1," after Kim Zmeskal, another U.S. standout.
Lolo Jones
100 meter hurdles
Olympics: First games
Age: She'll turn 26 Aug. 5
Local connection: Des Moines is her home town.
Chances: Extremely good. She's a three-time national champion and has been smoking the competition all year long. She's a graduate of Louisiana State University.
Alfred "AG" Kruger
Hammer
Olympics: Second; he did not qualify for the finals in 2004.
Age: 29
Local connection: Hails from Sheldon, Iowa.
Chances: He's the only American to qualify in the hammer throw. That says other countries dominate the field. Still, he's determined to make the Top 10.
Derek Miles
Pole Vault
Olympics: Second.
Age: 35
Local connection: He graduated from the University of South Dakota in 1996 with a degree in history.
Chances: Miles finished seventh in Athens; hopes to move up in 2008. Currently, he's an academic adviser at Arkansas State University.
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