Former T&F star competes at Olympic Trials
The Saddleback track & field program was back in the news this week as former hammer thrower Justin Stafford participated at the US Olympic Team Trials in Eugene, Oregon. Stafford competed for Saddleback in 2015 before transferring to UCLA.
Stafford came up just shy of qualifying for the finals on Friday, finishing 13th in the hammer throw. His longest throw of 69.60 meters was only 0.06 meters shy of 12th place, which would have qualified him for the finals on Sunday.
Stafford competed for Saddleback in 2015. He had a season-best throw of 55.16 meters at the Mt. SAC Relays and also had a toss of 54.35 meters for Saddleback on March 6, 2015, in a meet against Cuymaca College. He also competed in the discus and shot put for Saddleback.
Stafford transferred to UCLA where he competed for three seasons for the Bruins. Stafford was a Second Team All-American for UCLA in 2019, and is second all-time in UCLA history in the hammer throw (indoor, 71-0.75 meters) and third all-time in the hammer throw (outdoor, 68.57 meters).
Stafford threw the hammer 66.45 meters on his first throw on Friday and 66.60 meters on his second throw before fouling on his third and final throw.