LC graduate Henry misses out in hammer trials

BEAVERTON, Ore. – Britney Henry, a graduate from Lewis and Clark High School, placed ninth in the women’s hammer throw during the Olympic trials on Thursday.

Henry tossed the hammer 224 feet, 7 inches, but failed to qualify for the London Olympics.

Amber Campbell won the competition with a meet-record distance of 235-6. Amanda Bingson was second, less than an inch off the lead, and Jessica Cosby was third at 232-2. All three will represent the U.S. in London.

Kibwe Johnson won the men’s hammer throw with a toss of 245-11.

“My grandparents have been to every Olympics since 1976, I think,” he said. “And now they get to see me there.”

A.G. Kruger, who finished third with a throw of 242-6, also will represent the United States.

Second-place Chris Cralle, who threw 243-11, doesn’t have the Olympic “A” standard of 255-11 needed to qualify for the games. Both Johnson and Kruger had already met the mark.

Johnson last year became the first American to break the 80-meter barrier since 2000.

The event was held at Nike’s headquarters, about 110 miles north of where the rest of the Olympic trials will start today at Eugene’s Hayward Field.

Johnson, who has competed in the hammer at two world championships, will be competing in his first Olympics.

“I’ve been a starving hammer thrower for so long,” Johnson said. “It’s good to make it.”

Kruger said he’s keeping his sights on London, his third Olympics.

“Today I could feel myself. I was a little bit all over,” he said. “Thinking too much, I think.”

Campbell, who competed in the Beijing Olympics in 2008, was thrilled with her throw.

“I knew as soon as I let it go and I hit it that it was going to be a good one,” Campbell said.

Roughly 3,000 spectators turned out for the event.