Track & Field
Gonzalez '11 in Olympic Trials
EUGENE, OREGON-Christian Gonzalez '11, the 2010-11 Rider male Athlete of the Year, competed in the US Olympic Team Trials at the renowned Hayward Field on the campus of the University of Oregon Friday night in the 800m.
The largest national championship track meet in the world, the US Olympic Trials hosts more than 1,000 athletes as they compete for the right to represent Team USA at the Olympic Games.
Representing the New Jersey New York Track Club, as well as Rider, Gonzalez placed 27th in 1:49.32. The top 16 advanced. the time of the 16th place runner was 1:48.20.
"This is a great accomplishment for Christian and a true reflection of how hard he has worked to chase his dreams as an athlete," said Rider track/cross country coach Bob Hamer. "This is a really great thing for the Rider program. It inspires others to raise the level of their own performance and maybe give themselves an opportunity to chase their own dreams."
Last year Gonzalez (Somerset, N.J./Franklin Twp.) won the IC4A Cross Country Championship in the fall, was named the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Championships' Most Outstanding Performer in both the winter (Indoor) and the spring (Outdoor) and was an NCAA First Round Qualifier.
Gonzalez finished a Rider-best third in the MAAC Cross Country Championships, won the MAAC 800 meters and set Rider records in the 800m and mile during the Indoor Track Season and won two MAAC gold medals (800m, 4 x 800m) and a silver (1500m) during the Outdoor Track Season, leading Rider to the conference championship.
Gonzalez' time in the mile (4:00.84) was the 34th fastest in the NCAA in 2010-11. He set Rider records at three different cross country courses (Van Cortlandt, Lehigh, Penn State) and qualified for the Indoor IC4As in five different events. His three teams placed first (Outdoor), second (Indoor by five points) and third (best-ever in MAAC Cross Country) last year.
Gonzalez is the second of three Broncs to compete for a chance to go to London for the XXX Olympiad. Amanda Burke '10 placed third in the 3m synchronized dive and Drew Peterson '15 will compete next week in the 200 IM and 400 IM at the Olympic Swim Team Trials.
Gonzalez competed in "Track Town, USA", Eugene, Oregon, on the track that hosted the 1972, 1976, 1980 and 2008 Olympic Trails.
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