Prepping for the future

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EUGENE, Ore. -- Half-miler Laura Roesler of North Dakota isn’t the only high school runner to make a semifinal at these U.S. Olympic Trials.

Christine Babcock, 18, of Irvine, who set a national high school record in the 1,600 meters on May 31, and Jordan Hasay, 16, of San Luis Obispo, who has had a celebrated prep career in track and cross-country, each advanced tonight to the semifinals of the women’s 1,500 meters.

Hasay, who just finished her junior year in high school, does not intend to run the Friday semis because she is leaving for another meet: the World Junior Championships in Bydgoszcz, Poland. She already had made travel plans when withdrawals opened a spot for her in the trials.

Hasay, who has waist-length golden tresses worthy of Lady Godiva, stayed in the lead of her quarterfinal heat for 900 meters, eventually dropping back to eighth but advancing as a time qualifier. Babcock, headed for the University of Washington, ran at the back of her heat but moved up from ninth to seventh.

Babcock, of Irvine Woodbridge High, had the better time of the two -- 4 minutes, 18.32 seconds -- by 7/100ths of a second.

‘I was expecting not to lead,’ Hasay said. ‘I’m still learning so I went out for the first 300 [meters]. I’m happy I could take the lead and help [the other runners] qualify and save energy for tomorrow. Now I feel ready for World Juniors.’

-- Philip Hersh