Olympics track and field: Crouser advances to shot put final; Kincaid takes 16th in men's 10K

Ryan Crouser only needed one throw in the men’s shot put to advance to the final at the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics.

The Barlow High School alum from Boring is the two-time defending gold medalist in the event, and he’ll have a shot at No. 3 at 10:35 a.m. Saturday.

Crouser’s first toss went 21.49 meters, passing the qualifying standard of 21.35 and allowing him to end his day early after one throw. Crouser owns the world and Olympic record, having throws of 23.56 meters for the world record and 23.30 three years ago in the Tokyo Games for the Olympic crown.

If Crouser is able to win gold for the third time, he would be the first man to ever win shot put gold three times in the history of the Olympics.

There was a local connection to the first gold medal event of the track and field events at the Olympics also, with University of Portland’s own Woody Kincaid competing in the men’s 10,000 meter race.

Kincaid ran for the Pilots from 2011-2016 and helped them take third place nationally in the team cross country meet in 2014. He also ran at the 2020 Olympics in the men’s 10K, finishing in 14th in a time of 28 minutes, 11.01 seconds.

On Friday in Paris, Kincaid, 31, couldn’t keep up with the lead group, but still finished the race in 16th with an improved time of 27:29.40.

Pair of Ducks advance

Jordine van Klinken of the Netherlands is into the women’s discus final with a toss of 64.81 meters, besting the qualifying standard of 64 meters.

She is a three-time NCAA champion, winning her first two at Arizona State before transferring to Oregon and winning No. 3 in 2023. She’ll have a shot at an Olympic medal at 11:30 a.m. Aug. 5.

Cole Hocker is also moving to the semifinal of the men’s 1500 meter race after taking second in his first-round heat with a time of 3:35.27.

Hocker ran for the Ducks from 2019-2021 and won a national title in the 1500 before going pro. At the 2020 Olympics, Hocker took sixth place and is looking to improve that into a podium finish this year.

The men’s 1500 semifinal is slated for 12:10 p.m. Aug. 4.

Pair of Pilots head to repechage

Lorea Ibarzabal ran for the University of Portland from 2014-2016 and she’s turned it into a solid career representing her country of Spain.

At the 2024 Olympics, she’ll be heading to the women’s 800 meter repechage after taking sixth in her heat in a time of 2:00.71. The repechage takes place at 2:20 a.m. Aug. 3.

Another fellow Pilot heading for a second chance round is Cathal Doyle in the men’s 1500 after he took ninth in his heat with a time of 3:37.82. Doyle ran for the Pilots from 2020-2022.

The men’s 1500 repechage will be at 10:15 a.m. Aug. 3.