By The Numbers: Records, stats and more of Olympic track and field team
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After a week and a half of drama-filled competition in Eugene, Ore., the 2016 U.S. Olympic track and field team is set. A roster of 127 men and women, packed with young talent and first-time Olympians, will represent the United States in Rio de Janeiro. The U.S. topped the track and field medal table with 28 at the London Games in 2012.
USA Track and Field has yet to announce a medal goal for 2016.
• U.S. fielding a stronger women’s 1,500-meter squad than in 2012
Here’s a look at Team USA by the numbers (finalized roster information courtesy of USATF):
2: Events in which all three athletes have medaled at the world track and field outdoor championships or the Olympics
The women’s 1,500 meters features Jenny Simpson (2011 world championship gold medalist and ’13 world championship silver medalist), Shannon Rowbury (2008 Olympic bronze medalist) and Brenda Martinez (2013 world championship bronze medalist in 800 meters). The women’s long jump features Brittney Reese (2012 Olympic gold medalist), Tianna Bartoletta (2005, ’15 world championship gold medalist) and Janay DeLoach (2012 Olympic bronze medalist).
3: Individual world record holders
Ashton Eaton (indoor heptathlon and outdoor decathlon), Jenn Suhr (indoor pole vault) and Kerron Clement (indoor 400 meters).
4: Athletes who have previously served suspensions for banned substances
Sprinter Justin Gatlin was banned for testosterone from July 2006 to July ’10. Sprinter LaShawn Merritt was banned for testosterone from Oct. 2009 to July ’11. High jumper Inika McPherson was banned for cocaine from July 2014 to April ’16.
Hammer thrower Gwen Berry was banned for using Vilanterol Trifenatate in an inhaler from March 2016 to July ’16. The U.S. Anti-Doping determined that Berry was not using it as a performance enhancing drug but was stripped of an American record that she set earlier in the season.
Tyson Gay and Michael Rodgers have served drug suspensions but are in the relay pool. Gay’s positive test for steroids in 2013 cost the United States’ 4x100 meter silver medal.
• Oregon WR Devon Allen wins men’s 110-meter hurdles; Aries Merritt fourth
4: Athletes participating in their fourth Summer Olympics
Allyson Felix (400 meters), Shalane Flanagan (marathon), Meb Keflezighi (marathon) and Chaunté Lowe (high jump). Everyone but Lowe has won an Olympic medal.
5: Returning Olympic champions from 2012
Ashton Eaton (decathlon), Brittney Reese (long jump), Jenn Suhr (pole vault), Christian Taylor (triple jump) and Allyson Felix (200 meter gold medalist, running 400 meters in Rio)
Robert Beck
5: Athletes competing in two events
Justin Gatlin (100 and 200 meters); LaShawn Merritt (200 and 400 meters); Galen Rupp (10,000 meters and marathon); Tori Bowie (100 and 200 meters) and Tianna Bartoletta (100 meters and long jump)
5: 2015 world champions
Tianna Bartoletta (long jump), Ashton Eaton (decathlon), Allyson Felix (400m), Joe Kovacs (shot put), and Christian Taylor (triple jump). All will compete in the event which they won gold last summer. Bartoletta will also race in the 100 meters.
12: Events in which all athletes are competing in their first Olympics
Men’s 800; men’s pole vault, men’s long jump, men’s shot put, men’s discus, women’s 200, women’s 800, women’s 100-meter hurdles, women’s 400-meter hurdles, women’s triple jump, women’s discus and the women’s heptathlon.
16: Sydney McLaughlin’s age
McLaughlin, who qualified for the women’s 400-meter hurdles, holds the distinction of being the youngest U.S. track and field Olympian. The high school junior from Union Catholic in New Jersey will turn 17 on Aug. 7.
• Collision in women’s 800 meters was unfortunate but result was fair
19: American record holders (indoor and outdoor)
Bernard Lagat (1,500 meters), Galen Rupp (10,000 meters), Kerron Clement (400-meter hurdles), Tyson Gay (100 meters), Christian Taylor (triple jump), Evan Jager (steeplechase), Ashton Eaton (decathlon), Allyson Felix (indoor 300 meters), Natasha Hastings (indoor 300 meters), Molly Huddle (5,000 meters), Shalane Flanagan (10,000 meters), Emma Coburn (3,000-meter steeplechase), Maria Michta-Coffey (20K racewalk), Michelle Carter (shot put), Brittney Reese (indoor long jump), Keturah Orji (triple jump), Jenn Suhr (pole vault), Chaunté Lowe (high jump) and Kara Winger (javelin).
American records are not ratified until USATF’s annual meeting at the end of each year. At the moment, Allyson Felix and Natasha Hastings hold the American Record in the 300 meters until Hasting’s mark from this past winter gets ratified.
41: Bernard Lagat’s age
Lagat is the oldest U.S. Olympian as he will contest the 5,000 meters in his fifth and final Olympics.
84: First-time U.S. Olympians
The team features 40 men and 44 women who will be making their Olympic debut in Rio.
