Competing in the U.S. Olympic Trials and in meets across Europe, Hoya track and field athletes made names for themselves on an international level and solidified Georgetown ‘s reputation as one of the premier track programs in the country.

The U.S. Olympic Trials, held in Sacramento, Calif., in early July, were the first place many Hoyas showcased their talent this summer. Coming off a second-place finish at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, Jesse O’Connell (COL ’04) competed in the 800m run. O’Connell won his heat in his first race, advancing to the semifinals with a time of 1:47.99. In the semifinals he finished third in his heat with a time of 1:47.88, guaranteeing him a spot in the finals and a chance to qualify for a trip to Athens . But O’Connell missed qualifying for the Olympic team with a fifth-place finish of 1:46.55.

“I couldn’t have had a better experience,” he said. “I was not disappointed at all . and I learned a lot.”

Although he did not travel to Greece, O’Connell traveled to Europe after the Olympic Trials, competing for two weeks in three international meets. His first race, in London, was a “forgettable” one according to the runner, who finished last of eight runners. O’Connell’s next race, in Sweden , was much better – he set a personal record with a time of 1:46.14. And in his final race of the summer in Glasgow, Scotland, O’Connell won his race.

Rising junior Chris Lukezic also garnered acclaim as he breezed through the initial Olympic qualifying rounds of the 1,500m race. Upon reaching the final, Lukezic sprinted past many runners in the final meters of the race and finished with a time of 3:40.05. His fourth-place finish, however, just missed qualifying for the Olympic Games, as only the top three runners made it to Athens.

“I felt really good and bounced back after NCAAs,” Lukezic said. “I’ve never run from the back before. I was too far off the pace with 700 [meters] to go, and was making up ground the whole way until the last 800. I was a lot more tense at the NCAAs and out of it mentally. I kept my head clear here.”

Treniere Clement (COL ’04) also competed in Sacramento , finishing 11th overall in the semifinals of the 1,500m race with a time of 4:14.42.

Clement’s season did not end there, however, as she flew overseas to accumulate some international racing experience. At the TDK Golden League Weltklasse Zurich 2004 meet in Zurich , Switzerland , on Aug. 6, she broke an eight-year-old Georgetown women’s outdoor track record. Clement ran 2:02.35 in the 800m to establish a new mark in the event for the Hoya record books.

Other former Hoyas also competed in the Olympic Trials in Sacramento , representing various sponsors. Sasha Spencer (MSB ’01), now running for Nike, finished eighth in the women’s 800m final. Bryan Woodward (COL ’97) ran 1:50.96 in his men’s 800m opening race but did not advance, while Tyrona Heath (COL ’02) ran 2:07.62 in her opening heat of the women’s 800m. She also failed to advance into the subsequent heats. .