EUGENE, Ore. -- The defending Olympic pole vault champion warmed up, then cooled down, then ran through the whole process again, as the driving rain pelted the field Friday at the U.S. Olympic track and field trials.The more time you have to think, the more youre like, Wow. This is how bad things happen, Jenn Suhr said.Suhr escaped the badness. Several other big-name athletes werent as lucky on a rain-drenched afternoon at Hayward Field.On a day that saw LaShawn Merritt lower his world-best mark at 200 meters to 19.74 seconds -- in a semifinal heat, no less -- and two high-school kids, Michael Norman and Noah Lyles, earn spots in the final, there was just as much buzz about those whose chances got washed away in the rain.First among them was hurdler Dawn Harper-Nelson, whose run at a third Olympic medal came to a stunning halt in the 100-meter semifinals, when she finished third -- not good enough to make the eight-woman final.Tears are going to come, she said. Right now, Im just in shock.Later, after the rain had stopped but the track was still slick, American-record holder Keni Harrison stumbled to a sixth-place finish and a spot on the couch next month. Brianna Rollins, the 2013 worlds gold medalist, won in 12.34 seconds, a comfortable .16 seconds ahead of Kristi Castlin, who was considered a bigger threat four years ago at the trials.Harrison was supposed to be the woman to beat this year.It happened so fast, she said, clearly holding back tears. Ill have to watch film. Its unfortunate, because my season was going so well. But this stuff happens.It also happened to Shamier Little. The worlds silver medalist in the 400-meter hurdles didnt make it out of her semifinal heat.Allyson Felix took to the track well before the rain hit and coasted through her 200-meter qualifying heat in 22.93 seconds. It was her first race in nearly a year at her favorite distance. She said nothings really changed with her aching right ankle, despite four days of rest.Just trying to see how it does on the curve, and all that, she said, as she moved ahead in her quest for the 200-400 double at the Rio Games.Shortly after Felixs race, the sky opened, and everybodys outlook changed. The discus and pole vault competitions were delayed. The 100-meter hurdle semifinals turned into even more of an adventure than usual.I couldnt see through my race, said Nia Ali, who got safely through the semifinal, then finished third in the final, too, to make the Olympics.Suhr, whose gold medal in London came in a windy rainstorm, only needed one jump to qualify for the final.Im thankful to make it, because you never take it for granted, she said.Also waiting out the rain was Tavis Bailey, who finished second in the discus -- one of the most competitive contests on the card.When raindrops are hitting the discus in your hand, that will get to you, said Bailey, who finished behind Mason Finley.Not so fortunate was defending national champion Jared Schuurmans, who finished fifth.Others with decent chances who didnt make the team included high jumpers Jesse Williams, the 2011 world champion, and Randall Cunningham, who was hoping to join his sister, Vashti, on the trip to Brazil.When you landed on the mat, you landed in puddles, said Cunningham, who does the bulk of his training in bone-dry Las Vegas. Your whole body was soaked.Such is life in track and field -- and everything is amplified in the no-excuses world of U.S. Olympic qualifying, where the top three finishers make it and no exceptions are made for injuries, past performances -- or weather.Nobody felt worse than Harper-Nelson, who burst onto the scene eight years ago at the Birds Nest in Beijing, crossing the line first after her more-ballyhooed teammate, Lolo Jones, tripped on the second-to-last barrier. That day, Harper-Nelson crossed the line and could be seen mouthing the words What? What?She was every bit as dumbfounded by this finish.Complete disbelief, she called it. Ive never been in a position where someone is pulling away and I wasnt able to react.Other happenings on Day 7 of track trials:? Rollins stepped ever so slightly into an adjacent lane late in the 100-meter hurdles race but didnt impede fourth-place finisher Queen Harrison, so there was no protest, and no change in the results.? Lost in the buzz over the high-schoolers making the 200-meter final was the fact that three longtime mainstays of the U.S. sprint team -- Mike Rodgers, Wallace Spearmon and Walter Dix -- all failed to advance. On the womens side, Jenna Prandini had the best 200 time, at 22.72 seconds.? Evan Jager won the mens steeplechase in 8:22.48. Hell be joined in Rio by Hillary Bor and Donn Cabral.? Defending Olympic champion Aries Merritt, less than a year removed from a kidney transplant, made it through his qualifying heat in 110-meter hurdles. Also making it were 2008 bronze medalist David Oliver and 2012 silver medalist Jason Richardson. . "Hes going to have hip surgery on Jan. 7, and hell be expected to rehabilitate for four to six months beyond that," Canucks general manager Mike Gillis said Friday in an interview. . 10 Texas A&Ms offence dominated as usual against SMU. ., for the next three years with the signings on Monday of Daryl Townsend and Michael Carter. . Ferrer, trying to win his fourth title on Mexican soil, will next play South Africas Kevin Anderson, who eliminated American Sam Querrey,7-6 (2), 6-4. Also Wednesday, Gilles Simon (6) of France beat Donald Young of the United States 6-4, 6-3, Ukraines Alexandr Dolgopolov downed Frenchman Jeremy Chardy 6-3, 6-4 and Croatias Ivo Karlovic defeated Dudi Sela of Israel 7-6 (4), 6-2. .C. United of Major League Soccer. United chose the defender in the second round of the 2013 MLS re-entry draft. PHILADELPHIA -- Goodbye, glory days. Hello, future.The Philadelphia Phillies bid farewell to Carlos Ruiz and Ryan Howard in 2016, signaling the end of the most successful run in franchise history. They also welcomed several talented young players, giving fans hope for 2017 and beyond.Its been a slow rebuilding process for the Phillies, but theres reason for optimism following a 71-91 finish.I know were definitely going to upgrade somehow, whether its from within or go out and get somebody via trade or even a free agent, depending on whos available and if it makes sense, manager Pete Mackanin said. Were going to fulfill our needs. We have to get better next year. We have to show improvement. And hopefully the moves we do make result in more wins.Jerad Eickhoff, Vince Velasquez, Aaron Nola, Zach Eflin and Jake Thompson showed potential to be mainstays in the starting rotation, if healthy. Cesar Hernandez, Odubel Herrera, Maikel Franco, Freddy Galvis and Cameron Rupp had solid offensive seasons, though all of them wont be part of the nucleus going forward.The departure of Ruiz -- traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers in August -- and Howards exit -- the team plans to pay him a $10 million buyout -- leaves the Phillies with no players from their 2008 World Series championship team.After winning five straight NL East titles and two pennants between 2007-11, the Phillies have missed the postseason five consecutive years.A slew of prospects coupled with a few emerging stars is expected to help Philadelphia end its playoff drought before the decade ends.Heres a look at the past season and upcoming offseason:OFFENSIVE POSITIVES: 2B Hernandez (.294 AVG, .371 OBP, 17 steals) and SS Galvis (20 homers, 67 RBI) will be the double-play combination to start next season. Galvis power and excellent defense -- eight errors -- made up for his poor average (.2411) and on-base percentage (.dddddddddddd274). 1B Tommy Joseph had 21 HRs in only 315 at-bats. 3B Franco tied Howard for team-best with 25 HRs, batted .255 and drove in 88 runs. CF Herrera (.286, 15 HR, 25 SB) was an All-Star, though he struggled in second half. C Rupp was a pleasant surprise at the plate: .252, 16 HR, 54 RBI.PITCHING POSITIVES: Eickhoff (11-14, 3.65 ERA) was consistent the entire season. Velasquez (8-6, 4.12), Nola (6-9, 4.78), Eflin (3-5, 5.54) and Thompson (3-6, 5.70) had flashes of excellence. Alec Asher (2-1, 2.28) had a strong September. Relievers Hector Neris (2.58, 2 saves) and Edubray Ramos (3.82) should be late-inning options next season. Jeanmar Gomez had 37 saves but struggled mightily down the stretch.THE PROSPECTS: OF Roman Quinn and C Jorge Alfaro made their big-league debuts in the final month. SS J.P. Crawford, OF Nick Williams and C Andrew Knapp could arrive in Philadelphia at some point next season. OF Dylan Cozens had 40 HRs and 1B Rhys Hoskins hit 38 at Double-A Reading.BIGGEST NEEDS: Disciplined hitters with a professional plate approach who take pitches, work the count and grind out at-bats. I would like to get a good solid proven hitter somewhere on the field, Mackanin said. Where that is right now will be determined by who is available and what kind of a deal, if any, they could make.DECISION TIME: RHP Jeremy Hellickson (12-10, 3.71) will be a free agent and is expected to command a big salary. The Phillies probably wont offer him a multiyear contract but should consider making a qualifying offer -- a one-year deal worth about $17 million. If so, they would receive a compensatory pick if he signs elsewhere.---Follow Rob Maaddi on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/AP-RobMaaddi ' ' '
