Sports
Geneva's Dan Huling Just Misses Representing USA in 2012 London Olympics
The USA steeplechase athlete from Geneva runs for a chance to represent the United States in the London 2012 Olympics—but finishes seventh in the finals.
If you look at Dan Huling's bio on the USA Track & Field website, you'll see his high school listed as "Port Byron, IL," but several Genevans are certain he was on the GHS track team with their kids.
"I remember him saying at a support rally during that successful (2002) season: 'So, if you like watching a bunch of skinny boys in short shorts run, c'mon out and support us!' " Patch reader Joyce Elliott said.
Huling is a former Miami of Ohio University Red Hawk, as well, and you can read a more complete story on the Red Hawks website.
Find out what's happening in Genevawith free, real-time updates from Patch.
According to that story, "the Geneva, IL, native" was the runner-up in the steeplechase at the 2011 U.S. Outdoor Championships and won the national championship in 2010.
Huling had the best qualifying time going into the finals of the 3,000-meter steeplechase races that would determine who represents the USA at the 2012 Olympics in London.
Find out what's happening in Genevawith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Sadly, Huling finished seventh Thursday, and did not advance.
Huling, who is affiliated with Reebok, had the best qualifying times in his earlier heats, although his 8:29.00 time is quite a ways from the world record set in 2004 by Saif Shageen of Qatar. The USA men's record is 8:08.82 set by Danial Lincoln in 2006.
Here are the results from the final race:
PlaceAthlete NameAffiliationTime 1 Evan Jager Nike / Oregon TC Elite 8:17.40 2 Donald Cabral Nike 8:19.81 3 Kyle Alcorn Nike 8:22.17 4 Donald Cowart Ragged Mountain Racing 8:27.49 5 Benjamin Bruce adidas/McMillan Elite 8:29.61 6 Max King Central Oregon Running Klub 8:30.54 7 Daniel Huling Reebok 8:30.76 8 William Nelson New Balance 8:32.21 9 Cory Leslie Ohio State 8:33.94 10 Augustus Maiyo Unattached 8:35.61 11 Brian Olinger Reebok 8:37.93 12 Joshua McAdams New Balance 8:41.10 13 Craig Forys Michigan 8:46.81 14 David Adams Team Nebraska 8:48.83
Here is Huling's qualifying heat results.
PlaceAthlete NameAffiliationTimeQual Heat(Pl) 1 Daniel Huling Reebok 8:29.00 Q 2 (1) 2 Benjamin Bruce adidas/McMillan Elite 8:29.11 Q 2 (2) 3 Kyle Alcorn Nike 8:29.27 Q 2 (3) 4 Augustus Maiyo Unattached 8:29.29 Q 2 (4) 5 Brian Olinger Reebok 8:30.08 Q 2 (5) 6 Evan Jager Nike / Oregon TC Elite 8:30.60 Q 1 (1) 7 Donald Cabral Princeton 8:30.64 Q 1 (2) 8 Craig Forys Unattached 8:30.85 Q 1 (3) 9 Cory Leslie Ohio State 8:31.08 Q 1 (4) 10 Joshua McAdams New Balance 8:31.15 Q 1 (5) 11 Donald Cowart Ragged Mountain Racing 8:31.51 q 2 (6) 12 David Adams Team Nebraska 8:32.17 q 1 (6) 13 Max King Central Oregon Running Klub 8:33.43 q 2 (7) 14 William Nelson New Balance 8:35.22 q 1 (7)
