Three Kats to compete at USA Olympic Trials

EUGENE, Ore. — Three Sam Houston student-athletes are heading back to Hayward Field this weekend to compete for a spot on the United States Track and Field Olympic team, which will participate at the Tokyo Games later this summer.

Junior Clayton Fritsch, who finished fourth in the pole vault at the NCAA Outdoor Championships on June 9, comes into the Olympic Trials tied for the 13^th best mark in the vault this season at 5.75 meters.

Fritsch has competed for Team USA on the international stage before. He placed third in the pole vault at the 2019 Pan American Games in Lima, Peru, and he placed first at the 2019 U-23 North American, Central American and Caribbean Athletics Association Championships in Querétaro, Mexico.

"It's not only an honor but also a privilege to get to compete against the best in the world for a spot on Team USA," Fritsch said. "It's also a great feeling to see all the hard work we've gone through pay off by making it this far."

Seniors Bryan Henderson and Joshua Smith will be representing the Bearkats in the sprints this weekend at Hayward Field.

Smith has the 18^th-best time in the 400-meter hurdles coming into the trials at 49.70 seconds. He finished 10th in the semifinals at the NCAA championships on June 9 with a mark of 50.21.

Henderson will be competing in the men's 100-meter dash. His top time this outdoor season is 10.12 seconds, which is the 27^th-best time heading into the trials. He placed 15^th at the NCAA Outdoor Championships.

"It's a dream come true to compete on the highest level of American track and field," Henderson said.

The three highest finishes that meet the Olympic standard or high enough world ranking will make Team USA and compete at the Tokyo Olympics July 23 through Aug. 8.

"It's a great opportunity for these individuals and our program to be represented and compete among the elites of our sport," Sam Houston assistant coach Cutter Bernhard said. "The Olympic Trials is the first step in accomplishing any track athletes ultimate dream, representing your country at the Olympic Games, and these guys have that opportunity in front of them this week."

Below is the competition schedule for the men's pole vault, 100 meters and 400 hurdles. All times CST:

Saturday, June 19
• Pole vault qualifying, 6:30 p.m.
• 100-meter first round, 7:34 p.m.

Sunday, June 20
• 100-meter semifinals, 8:19 p.m.
• 100-meter finals, 9:52 p.m.

Monday, June 21
• Pole Vault finals, 5:30 p.m.

Thursday, June 24
• 400-meter hurdles first round, 9:32 p.m.

Friday, June 25
• 400-meter hurdles semifinals, 5:18 p.m.

Saturday, June 26
• 400-meter hurdles finals, 8:35 p.m.

Three Kats to compete at USA Olympic Trials

Players Mentioned

Clayton Fritsch

Bryan Henderson

Joshua Smith

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