7/6/08

There were ample distractions for Ian Waltz and, rather than succumb to them, the two-time U.S. Outdoor discus champ kept his composure to win a third title Sunday at Hayward Field, his first in a U.S. Olympic Track & Field Trials.

Waltz came in with a bum leg, then saw his training partner fail to advance to the final round of three throws. But the muscle strain in his leg didn’t keep Waltz from opening with a big throw of 207 feet, 9 inches and, after the elimination of training partner Jarred Rome, Waltz uncorked the winning effort of 216-1 in the fourth round.