On the final day of the 2012 Olympic Trials, I spent some time early in the day walking around the festival surrounding Hayward Field. That showed me what these last 10 days have really been all about — family.
Activities were set up all around the stadium to get the youngsters involved and excited about track. There was the little sprinters area, where the little guys had a chance to race their best friends or big brothers and sisters. There were cutout cardboard folks where you could stand and have your face on the body of an Olympian. There were harnessed trampolines and tree-climbing stations. In short, there was plenty to do for those of all ages – including several beer gardens for mom and dad.
With that scenario playing out on the track, perhaps it’s no surprise that what happened inside Hayward Field replicated it so closely, with one family leading the way.
17-year-old Gresham High School senior-to-be Haley Crouser finished seventh at the trials in the javelin – the same event in which her 20-year-old big brother Sam took second a few days earlier.
That left dad Dean beaming as he strolled around the outskirts of the stadium.
When asked how it felt as a father seeing his two kids among the 10 best athletes in the nation in their respective events, Dean had a hard time finding the words.
“Indescribable. We’ve been doing this a long time, and I think it’ll sink in even more down the road as far as the significance of what they just did. They both came close to getting a life best on their sixth throw at the Olympic Trials in Eugene, Oregon. I mean, it doesn’t get any better than that,” he said.
And he’s right. It doesn’t get much better.
The whole family was able to be in the same place, watching Sam take second earlier this week. Sam was in the stands Sunday watching little sister compete against former record holders and Olympians. And both of them were up to the challenge.
Haley drew unsolicited praise from competitor Dana Pounds-Lyon in the media tent afterward, as Pounds-Lyon walked by saying “The future ladies and gentlemen, the future,” and pointing at Crouser.
The experience wasn’t lost on Crouser either.
“I’ve always looked up to Rachel (Yurkovich) and Kara (Patterson) since I was little, especially Rachel because she’s an Oregonian, she had the national record. She was real encouraging, saying what a good job I did. It was just an amazing experience getting to compete against them,” Haley said.
The familial setting wasn’t just for those families with multiple competitors on the track.
After many of the events, little toddlers were scooped up off the track and into mom or dad’s arms after their parents earned Olympic berths. Some of the kids – like Bernard Lagat’s son – even made their way to the podium after the events to give age-appropriate comments like “Good” and “Bye-bye.”
Seeing two mothers qualify for the Olympic team in the high jump is an inspiration for women everywhere. One of those women – Amy Acuff – will turn 37 in just two weeks.
That’s the combined age of the two Crouser siblings, who will have plenty of time to improve and try to reach the Olympics in 2016. (Even though he finished second, Sam missed out on this year’s team by not getting an A standard).
Then the family atmosphere that surrounded the trials in Eugene this year will carry itself to an even grander stage.
But for at least one papa out there, there’s no use looking ahead that far just yet. Instead, Dean Crouser would rather soak up the success of the last week.
“I’m as proud as you can be,” the beaming dad said Sunday afternoon.
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