Print Edition

Letter to the editor submissions

Have a strong opinion about something happening on campus or in Fort Collins? Want to respond to an article written on The Collegian? Write a Letter to the Editor by following the guidelines here.

Morris, Lesnar, Hawkins represent Rams in US Summer Olympics team trials

Adam Gross, Staff Reporter

July 7, 2024

Collegian | Tri Duong

Colorado State University track and field athlete Gabi McDonald Feb. 13, 2023.

Colorado State track and field sent a trio of its best women throwers to compete at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, for the 2024 United States Olympic Team Trials. Gabi Morris, Mya Lesnar and Michaela Hawkins represented the Rams against some of the country’s best throwers with an opportunity to compete in Paris for the Summer Olympics.

Hawkins competed first in discus Monday, June 24. Hawkins was put up against 23 other top American throwers. She finished with a mark of 56.26 meters, placing 14th. Only the top 12 competitors advanced to the final round on Thursday. Hawkins’ time throwing at the college level concluded, as she will begin throwing professionally.

Friday brought the first round of women’s shot put, in which Morris advanced to the final round in 11th place with a mark of 18.00 meters. Lesnar finished just behind in 12th with a mark of 17.70 meters. Of the 24 competitors, the pair rounded out the bottom two of the 12 available qualifying spots for the final round Saturday.

On Morris’ first attempt in the final, she threw a mark of 17.96 meters, finishing ninth. Lesnar threw 16.77 meters, placing 12th. With only the top three positions qualifying for the Paris Olympics, the pair will not be representing the U.S. in this year’s Summer Olympics.

Despite Morris, Lesnar and Hawkins coming up short at the team trials, competing in Eugene reflected their tremendous 2023-24 season as Rams. Together, they amassed 52 podium finishes with 28 victories, including one NCAA indoor national championship from Lesnar.

In 2028, the Summer Olympics will be held in Los Angeles, where this trio of Rams will have another shot at qualifying as professional throwers.

Reach Adam Gross at sports@collegian.com or on Twitter @agrose_22.

About the Contributor

Tri Duong, Co-Photo Director

Tri Duong is a fifth-year journalism student with a minor in chemistry and is profoundly intrigued by the art of documenting life one frame at a time. Duong was born and raised in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, where reunification would one day bring about his family move to Loveland, Colorado, in 2007. For 14 years, his family was separated due to the aftermath of the Vietnam War. Coming from a different country has given him a deeper insight to life and the way of being. In fifth grade, Duong discovered photography through an after-school class, which led to his journey to becoming a photojournalist today. Whether it is photographing the ordinary walks of daily life or the harsh rambles of the world, Duong will always adhere to a certain philosophy: The product must preserve the liveliness of a worthy moment in the truest and most authentic way possible, or else it is not life. Working for The Collegian, Duong aspires to bring storytellers and journalists to develop their inspiration of visual communication through an ethical scope. Documentation of fragile and vulnerable reality is fascinating evidence for existence; therefore, it is critical to respect the nature of its realness. In his free time, Duong takes an interest in beekeeping, bartending and traveling as a way to explore the vast unknown of this world. Duong hopes to learn more about the storytellers he comes by at work or school. Everyone carries with them a unique tale of experience, and it would be lovely to hear who they are and how they ended up here.

Comments (0)

When commenting on The Collegian’s website, please be respectful of others and their viewpoints. The Collegian reviews all comments and reserves the right to reject comments from the website. Comments including any of the following will not be accepted. 1. No language attacking a protected group, including slurs or other profane language directed at a person’s race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, social class, age, physical or mental disability, ethnicity or nationality. 2. No factually inaccurate information, including misleading statements or incorrect data. 3. No abusive language or harassment of Collegian writers, editors or other commenters. 4. No threatening language that includes but is not limited to language inciting violence against an individual or group of people. 5. No links.

Share your thoughts...

All The Rocky Mountain Collegian Picks Reader Picks Sort: Newest