OTC Elite's Heyward earns Olympic berth for Great Britain
Jake Heyward on his way to running 3:33.99 at the 2021 Portland Track Festival. Photo by Jake Willard
By Curtis Anderson | June 29, 2021
EUGENE, Ore. - Oregon Track Club Elite added one more Olympian to its roster with Tuesday's announcement that 22-year-old Jake Heyward has been chosen to represent Great Britain at the Tokyo Olympics this summer.
Heyward, a native of Cardiff, Wales, placed third in the 1,500 meters at the Müller British Athletics Championships in Manchester, England on June 26 with a time of 3:42.41.
He trailed two veteran standouts across the finish line in Josh Kerr, a two-time World Championships qualifier, and Jake Wightman, a sixth-place finisher in the 1,500m at the 2018 World Indoor Championships.
Under the British qualifying system, the top two finishers in each event at the Trials earn automatic berths on the Olympic squad, while the third and final spot is determined by a selection committee.
OTC Elite coach Mark Rowland was gratified by the committee's selection of Heyward to the Great Britain Olympic team.
"Jake has stepped up a level this season, which we've welcomed," Rowland said. "But he knows there is much more to come and to develop. He has great expectations of himself and is eager to learn and wants to continue to progress leading into the Olympics. He deserved and earned this selection after taking third at the Trials behind what I see as two medal contenders."
Heyward moved to Eugene and joined OTC Elite in 2019. One month ago, he bettered the Olympic standard in the 1,500m (3:35.00) with an outstanding 3:33.99 performance at the Portland Track Festival, breaking a 31-year-old Welsh record.
Meanwhile, back in TrackTown USA, the U.S. Olympic Track & Field Trials wrapped up its 10-day run at sparkling new Hayward Field on June 27. The meet schedule was delayed for five hours due to extreme heat as temperatures in Eugene soared to an all-time high of 110 degrees.
OTC Elite's Chanelle Price, competing in her fourth Olympic Trials, set the early pace in the 800m final, and held on for fifth place with a personal best of 1:58.73. It was her third straight race under 2:00 at the Trials. Hanna Green, a 2019 World Championships qualifier, finished eighth in 1:59.55.
It has been a long and emotional journey for the 30-year-old Price, who has overcome multiple injuries and setbacks since winning the gold medal in the 800m at the 2014 World Indoor Championships.
"The day of the (Trials) final I couldn't stop crying because I was just so happy that I never gave up despite all my setbacks," Price said. "Of course, I'm a little bummed to not make the team, but at the end of the day, I gave it my all and that's all I can ask of myself."
Added Rowland: "Chanelle displayed great tenacity in her preparation, and she excelled in all departments with three sub-2:00 runs. Her story over the past few months has been eventful for sure."
Price plans to head to Europe in July for some additional racing, with a possible return to Hayward Field on August 21 for one last appearance at the Prefontaine Classic.
"I haven't decided yet about retirement, but I'm pretty sure this is it, and I can't think of a better meet to end my career at," she said.
Elsewhere, 2016 Olympian Hassan Mead placed 11th in the 5,000m final with a time of 13:47.85. The two-time World Championships qualifier was fourth with 1,000m to go.
Vince Ciattei, who set his PR of 3:34.57 one month ago at the Portland Track Festival, finished 10th in the 1,500m final at 3:39.02.
"I'm proud of how the entire crew handled themselves and performed based on each of their preparations," Rowland said. "We always approach the championships knowing and wanting more time to address individual areas, but that's the same every year for any coach. I've enjoyed the challenges for each athlete."