EUGENE, ORE. — U-M junior and Grand Blanc grad Geena Gall was just a few paces off qualifying for her first Olympics in the 800m run Monday, but ended up in seventh place after being passed by her training partner and a pro in the final stretch.

However, Gall posted the fastest collegiate time of 2:02.35, her best of the season, cementing her national championship mark set earlier in June. Gall will now compete at the NACAC at Toluca, Mexico in late July as part of the U-23 Team USA. After that, Gall will get a much needed rest after running for nearly a year as part of the Michigan cross country and indoor and outdoor track teams.

The World record of 1:53.28 in the 800m was set in July 1983 by Jarmila Kratochivilova of Czechoslavakia. The American record of 1:56.40 was set in Aug. 1999 by Jearl Miles-Clark. The Olympic mark was posted in 1996 by Meredith Rainey.

At the recent trials Hazel Clark of Nike was first in 1:59.82, Alice Schmidt was second in 2:00.46 and Kameisha Bennett third in 2:01.20. — L.P.

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