Caleb Rogalski Assistant Throws Coach | Milwaukee Athletics Website
Caleb Rogalski Assistant Throws Coach | Milwaukee Athletics Website
Milwaukee's Natalie Block will compete this season in the U.S. Olympic Team Trials in the 100m hurdles, starting on Friday, June 28, at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.
After qualifying for the Olympic Trials in late May at the NCAA West Preliminary Rounds with a time of 13.23 seconds, Block will join a field of 29 others from across the United States vying for a spot on the U.S. Olympic roster for the Games of the XXIII Olympiad (2024 Summer Olympics) in Paris this summer.
Block's initial run is scheduled for Friday, June 28, in the second heat of the 100m hurdle prelims. The opening heat is expected to start at approximately 7:23 p.m. (CT), with broadcast coverage on USA Network and streaming online on Peacock.
The top six from each of four heats and the next three fastest times will advance to Saturday evening's semifinals at 7:04 p.m. (CT), available on NBC and Peacock. The finals are set for Sunday, June 30, at 7:00 p.m. (CT) on both NBC and Peacock.
Earlier this month, Block qualified to compete at the NCAA Championships in the 400m hurdles but withdrew due to an injury sustained during training.
"With the ankle injury Natalie sustained at the NCAA Championships," commented head coach Andrew Basler, "we were not sure if we had the time to get her healthy enough to compete." He added that her progress was "a testament to the work and guidance of our head athletic trainer, Aaron Haselhorst," as well as Block's own commitment to recovery.
Block also qualified for the Olympic Trials in the 400m hurdles with a time of 57.68 seconds at Louisville's Clark Wood Invitational but has chosen to focus solely on the 100m hurdles.
"While she was accepted into both events," Basler stated, "we have opted to just focus on the 100 hurdles." He expressed satisfaction that Block would have another chance to compete after her setback at NCAA Championships and represent Milwaukee at the Olympic Trials.
Block becomes only the second Panther in Milwaukee’s Division I history to qualify and compete in Track & Field Olympic Trials and is its first female qualifier. The program’s previous qualifier was Cory Peterson who competed in advance of the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta.
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