Hoosier runners earn Olympic trial spots

Four Hoosiers move on to the next step in their bid to earn spots on the United States Olympic track and field team.

Day one of the Olympic trials concluded Friday with Kind Butler, Molly Beckwith and Danielle Carruthers excelling in their individual events.

Butler was one of 16 to advance in the 400-meter dash. He finished fourth in his heat and eighth overall with a time of 45.67.

He will start in lane two of the second heat in the Saturday semifinals.

Beckwith ran the 800-meter race in 2:00.61, the fastest time in the preliminary round.
She is a 2010 IU graduate and trains in Bloomington with Hoosier Head Track Coach Ron Helmer. She will start from lane six during heat one of the semifinals.

Carruthers took second place in heat two, posting the fourth-fastest time in the 100-meter hurdles.

The 2003 graduate ran the event in 12.88. She will take off from lane five in heat one of the semifinals.

Hoosier 2011 alumna Vera Neuenswander advanced to the pole vault finals event Sunday as a result of weather cancellation of the event Friday.

She trains in Bloomington with IU Pole Vault Coach Jake Wiseman.

— Jason Haddix