Jackson Mestler was a basket carrier at the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials and today he qualified for the steeplechase final for a chance to the make the 2020 U.S. Olympic Team.@usatf | #TokyoOlympics x #TrackFieldTrials21 pic.twitter.com/gl8xBgo9hZ
— #TokyoOlympics (@NBCOlympics) June 21, 2021
Jackson Mestler knew what it was like to be at the Olympic Trials long before he ran in his first heat of the 3,000m steeplechase on Monday afternoon.
As a Eugene native, going to Sheldon High School, Mestler has attended the Trials for most of his life, and he volunteered in 2016 as a high school student.
On Monday afternoon, he finished fifth in his heat of the steeplechase, advancing to the final with a chance to make it to the Tokyo Olympics.
Mestler ran 8:33.09 in his heat, getting through to the final in an automatic qualifying bid. He will now run in the final on Friday afternoon with hopes of realizing a dream.
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