Two former Iowa track and field athletes competed at the U.S. Track and Field Olympic Trials in Eugene, Ore., on June 22-24.

Erik Sowinski raced in the 800-meter event and finished seventh in the prelims on June 22 to qualify for the semifinals, recording a time of 1:47.30 in his first race. The ex-Hawkeye took third in his heat.

But Sowinski saw his Olympic dreams fall on June 23, when he placed last in the semis, placing 16th with a time of 1:50.83.

Jeffery Herron, another recent Iowa grad, also advanced past his prelim competition in the high jump on Sunday. Herron cleared 7-0 1/2. The Hawkeye will compete in the event finals today at 5:50 p.m.

Des Moines native Lolo Jones secured her spot on the London Olympics team in the 100-meter hurdles on Sunday. The Iowan finished with a time of 12.86 seconds, just 0.14 seconds off the time that earned her seventh place in the Beijing Games in 2008.

Jones finished third in her prelim heat and second in her semifinal before taking third in the finals to earn her ticket to London.

Jones’ overseas competition will begin on Aug. 6 in the first round of the 100-meter hurdles.

— by Molly Irene Olmstead