EUGENE, Ore. – After 10 days of exciting performances, the 2016 Olympic Track and Field Trials in Eugene, Oregon are complete.
Nearly 200,000 spectators watched competitors vie for a spot on Team USA. One of the athletes falling short of that goal was Texas Aggie Annie Kunz who was attempting to make the team in the heptathlon.
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"I ended up with a (personal record) and a school record so I'm happy," said Kunz. "Just to be in the same atmosphere with such amazing athletes is so incredible and such a learning experience."
Kunz is new to the sport and plans to train hard to make it to the 2020 Summer Games in Tokyo. She knows she'll have support from her fellow Aggies.
"There is nothing like the 12th Man," she said. "So to have all their support back in Aggieland and around the country. There were people shouting out 'Gig Em' in the stands. So, it's just like nothing else."
Ricky Babineaux, a former Aggie, was two-hundredths of a second away from punching his ticket to Rio in the 400 meter hurdles. He now calls Houston home, training at the University of Houston.
"To Carl Lewis and my support staff, Stephen Baker back home at the UH, Coach Henry and everybody that's helped me this far through my career, I just want to give them all thanks," Babineaux said.
Both athletes plan to work hard and compete over the next four years to make it back to the Olympic Trials in 2020.