Updates From The Five-Ring Circus

By BLAKE TIMM, Pacific University Sports Information Director
If you are like me, you have been staying up way too late checking out the action from the Games of the XXIX Olympiad. Thankfully, my wife and I do not have cable at home, so I am limited to the horribly tape-delayed coverage provided by NBC. Never mind that I can find out most of the results well in advance of air time, but, especially when it comes to track and field, I still enjoy watching.

Pacific has a number of connections to this year's Olympic Games...
IAN DOBSON: A former runner at Oregon cross country powerhouse Klamath Union High School, Dobson (far right in the photo) qualified for the U.S. Team at 5,000 meters, finishing third behind Matt Tegenkamp and the amazing Bernard Lagat. Dobson placed ninth in his heat on Aug. 20 (14:05.47), failing to advance to the finals. Lagat was the only American to advance to the final, running eighth fastest time in the prelims to win the third heat in 13:39.70.

Pacific Connection: Dobson is the son of Pacific University Library director Marita Kunkel, who is in Beijing to see her son's once in a lifetime experience (but we hope to see him in London).

CLAY STANLEY: The dominant outside hitter for the U.S. men's volleyball team has led the Americans to the gold medal match. A two-time Olympian, Stanley is the leading scorer in this year's Olympic tournament and has started every match for the United States. After outlasting Russia in the semifinals, Stanley and the U.S. will face Brazil in the gold medal match on Sun., Aug. 24.

Pacific Connection: Stanley is the nephew of former Pacific volleyball coach Chris Stanley, and is from a long line of volleyball players. Chris Stanley, incidentally, remains on the Pacific staff as the director of intramurals and event management. If you see him, ask him about jumping center in junior college basketball against a future dominant UCLA center.

FROM THE STANDS: Prior to the beginning of preseason practices on Monday, new Pacific volleyball coach Lena Chan spent the last week in Beijing taking in as much volleyball action as she could, be it men's, women's or beach. Chan's husband, Alex, has relatives in the Chinese capitol and took advantage of free lodging to watch the Americans dominate one of their own games.

The downside to the new job, however, was having to leave early. Rest assured, however, that Alex and the Chan children have taken advantage of their tickets to the gold medal matches.

AND BEFORE THE GAMES: I had the opportunity to work on the media staff for the 2008 U.S. Olympic Track & Field Trials in Eugene, which was truly one of the pinnacle experiences of my professional life. You can read more about my time at Historic Hayward Field on my personal blog, blaketimm.blogspot.com.

Additionally, Pacific University photo professor Jim Flory was at the trials shooting photos. He will display his awesome work in a show that is expected to take place later this fall on the Pacific campus.

Hope you enjoy the rest of the Games. Now to get the office cleaned up so I can stay up late again tonight!