Becker Competes in Hammer Throw at U.S. Olympic Trials

For Immediate Release: Monday, June 30, 2008

Eugene, Ore. – Former University of Wisconsin-La Crosse student-athlete Kevin Becker tied for 20th overall in the hammer throw preliminaries at the 2008 United States Olympic Team Trials - Track & Field - Monday night at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.

Becker, who competed in the second flight of the prelims, threw 216-0 to tie for 20th overall. A total of 24 athletes competed in the preliminaries with the top-12 advancing to the finals Friday, July 4.

A.G. Kruger had the top mark Monday night at 240-6. Garland Porter was the 12th and final qualifier after throwing 223-6. The top three finishers Friday, who have met Olympic performance standards, will earn a spot on the Team USA roster for the Olympic Games.

Becker won three NCAA Division III titles in his career at UW-L, including the hammer throw at the 2005 and 2007 championships. He earned the national crown in the weight throw at the 2006 indoor meet. Becker captured the hammer throw at the 2006 and 2007 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Outdoor Championships.

He has also competed at the 2003 USA Junior Outdoor National Championships as well as the 2007 and 2008 USA Indoor Nationals.

Becker owns UW-L records in the weight (69-0 1/2) and hammer throws (215-3).

Former UW-L student-athlete Andrew Rock was scheduled to compete in the 400-meter dash quarterfinals Sunday, June 29, but withdrew.

Rock was a member of Team USA’s gold medal 4x400-meter relay at the 2004 Olympics in Athens. He captured the 400-meter dash at the 2006 USA Outdoor Championships and was the silver medalist at the 2005 World Championships. Rock also earned a gold medal as part of Team USA’s 4x400-meter relay at the 2005 World Championships.

A 17-time NCAA Division III All-America honoree, Rock became the first athlete in Division III history to win three consecutive indoor 400-meter championships (2002, 2003, 2004). He was also a 17-time WIAC champion at UW-L.

Rock holds nine school records, including the indoor (45.82) and outdoor (44.66) 400-meter dashes.