Former Bearkat barely misses chance to go to Olympics

Former Bearkat Chris Cralle competed at the Olympic Trials Hammer Throw on Thursday in Beaverton, Ore. at the Nike headquarters, unfortunately he did not qualify for the Olympics, according to the Associated Press.

Cralle placed second in the trial but his score of 243-11 did not meet the Olympic “A” standard of 255-11, according to the Associated Press.

Kibwe Johnson won with a throw of 245-11 and will be heading to London next month.

A.G. Kruger finished in third with a throw of 242-6, and he will also be going to London.

Even though Kruger and Johnson’s final scores did not meet the Olympic “A” standard they had met that mark earlier in the trial.

Although Cralle did not make it to London, several Bearkats said how proud they were of him.

“eat ‘em up!!!!! way to go cralle!!!” Kristi Hermes commented on Facebook.

Cralle even earned a comment from David Self, his former coach of the Sam Houston State University track team.

“GREAT JOB CHRIS!!..way to represent Bearkat Throws!!” Self said on Facebook.

Cralle was a member of the SHSU Track and Field team from 2007 to 2011, but was redshirted during the 2010 season.

Cralle won the Southland Conference Championship in hammer throwing in 2008 and 2009.

He set the SHSU record in the hammer with a score of 215’ 0” at the Ty Terrell Relays in 2009. When Cralle won the SLC he set a meet record of 200-2, according to gobearkats.com

Even though Cralle didn’t make it he is still able to look forward, and told a press conference after the trials why.

“This is the best experience I have had in track and field for six years,” Cralle said. “I’m just glad I was able to get up there with A.G. and Kibwe.”

The summer Olympics will begin on July 27 and will continue until August 12.