In our weekly peek into ASU Olympic Sports, we learn ASU is building its track dynasty one random student at a time. Though, walk-on tryouts aren’t exactly anything we saw in Beijing.

Some coaches will do anything to find talent. If you’re Kevin Bacon, you travel deep into Africa looking for the next great big man. If you’re ASU track and field coach Greg Kraft, you just host open tryouts.

So what does a program that has combined to win three of the last four track and field NCAA championships (men’s indoor and women’s indoor and outdoor) look for? Apparently someone who can run 30 meters at Usain Bolt-like speed.

The requirements, while they do resemble that of the President’s Fitness Challenge that we took in sixth grade, are apparently enough to determine if you’ve got what it takes to be a Sun Devil runner. Or, for the larger members of Sun Devil nation, a softball chucker.

• Test #1: standing long jump (3 trials)
• Test #2: 30-meter sprint from a stand (2 trials)
• Test #3: 30-meter sprint with a 20-meter fly (2 trials)
• Test #4 (throwers only): javelin (throw softball), shot put (throw shot), discus (throw discus)
• Test #5: 45-second run (run as far as you can in 45 seconds)

Thirty meters seems awfully short to us, but maybe there are some new events in the works, like the 4×25 relay.

Olympic Replacement
Maggie Ethier, the niece of Sun Devil dream killer Joe Germaine, is taking maternity leave and being replaced as an assistant coach for the ASU gymnastics team by former Olympian Jamie Dantzscher. Maggie and former Sun Devil and current Los Angeles Dodger Andre Ethier are expecting a child in early September.

Pink is My Favorite Color
Although ASU football has a bye on Sept. 27, you may still see quarterback Rudy Carpenter at a football (or futbol) game the night before. During its game against UC Santa Barbara on Sept. 26, the women’s soccer team will host a Pink Out for Breast Cancer Awareness, granting $3 admission to anyone wearing pink. And we all know, where there are pink shirts, there is Rudy Carpenter.

Tags: Other ASU Sports , jamie dantzscher, maggie ethier // Add Comment »