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Haapanen wins flight but misses hammer finals
TF--Olympic Trials-Haapanen pic
Manteca resident Amy Haapanen competed in her third U.S. Olympic Track and Field Team Trials on Wednesday, placing 11th in the hammer throw. - photo by Photo Contributed

EUGENE, Ore. — Manteca’s Amy Haapanen won the first flight, but it wasn’t good enough to advance to the hammer throw finals in U.S. Olympic Track and Field Team Trials at the University of Oregon’s Hayward Field on Wednesday.

Haapanen finished 11th overall, topping out at 216 feet, 11 inches on her third and final try. The throwers with the top nine marks advanced to the finals, and Maggie Ewen (217-8) took the last spot with a mark just 9 inches farther than Haapanen’s best. 

It was the third Olympic Trials appearance for Haapanen, 32, who set a personal record of 231-8 in her audition for the 2012 London Games team. 

Amber Campbell won the event with a meet record of 242-10. Gwen Berry (239-9) and Deanna Price (239-9) also qualified for the Rio Games. Team USA takes the top three placers who also meet the qualifying ‘A’ standard. 

Rudy Winkler (251-10) is the men’s champion, but none of the male competitors hit the ‘A’ standard. Wednesday marked the first time the hammer throw was held at Hayward Field