Lexi Youngberg awaits selection for 2016 Olympic Paralympic Games in Rio; SBTC's FitzSimons, Jr. first SBTC athlete to compete at U.S. Track & Field Olympic Team Trials in Eugene, OR; defending U.S. national champion Barbara Nwaba along with teammates Lindsay Lettow and Lindsay Schwartz set to begin competition in the Heptathlon in Eugene on Saturday, July 9
U.S. Track & Field Paralympic Olympic Team Trials - Results
U.S. Track & Field Olympic Team Trials - Results
Youngberg Earns U.S. Long Jump Title
Charlotte, NC—23 year old Lexi Youngberg (T44), who recently joined the ABEO / Santa Barbara Track Club became the squads latest U.S. national champion after clinching the Long Jump title at the U.S. Paralympic Team Trials in Charlotte, N.C. Youngberg leaped out to 4.31m / 14' 1.75" on her second of six jumps. She also competed in the 100m finishing 5th in 15.01 seconds as well as the 200m where she finished sixth in 31.66.
Youngberg's jump of 4.31m gave her an AQS Qualification mark for the 2016 Rio Paralympics and is awaiting selection.
FitzSimons Finishes 14th in Decathlon
Eugene, OR—ABEO / Santa Barbara Track Club's Thomas FitzSimons, Jr. fought strongly during the ten-event, two-day Decathlon competition finishing in 14th place with 7392 points at the 2016 U.S. Track & Field Olympic Team Trials. Just off his best in a couple of his events, FitzSimons, Jr. logged a personal best in the Shot Put tossing it 13.12m / 43' 00.50". One of the best 1500m runners in the Decathlon field FitzSimons, Jr. would also finish third in the final event in 4:23.16.
Ashton Eaton (OR / Oregon Track Club) who trains periodically in Santa Barbara claimed his fifth U.S. Outdoor Decathlon title with 8750 points. He will look to defend his Olympic title in Rio later this summer.
SBTC Heptathletes Set to Compete
A trio of SBTC Heptathletes will begin competition on Saturday, July 9 also in Eugene, OR. Barbara Nwaba enters the seven-event, two-day Heptathlon ranked number one and will seek to defend her 2015 U.S. national title while also earning first Olympic roster spot. Lindsay Lettow (#10) and Lindsay Schwartz (#13) join Nwaba with not only their Olympic dreams on the line, but coveted Team USA roster spots for international competitions later in the summer.
Additional Santa Barbara Notables
2007 UCSB graduate, Stephanie Rothstein, finished 20th in the 10,000m final in 34:27.48. 2012 UCSB graduate, Ryan Martin, fighting injuries did not advance out of the first round in the 800m. 2007 UCSB graduate, Amy Haapanen, competes in the Women's Hammer Throw on Wednesday, July 6 @ 3:00pm.