EUGENE, Ore. – For metro Detroit athletes vying to make the track and field team competing in Rio, it's all about finishing in the top three at the trials.
The U.S. Olympic Track and Field trials begin July 1 and go on for ten days in Eugene, Oregon.
[Photo galleries below]
"Trials are always more stressful than the Olympics," Jeff Porter said. "All the training, all the injuries, all the heartache, whatever, before that day doesn't matter because you have to get on that day and execute. And that's what I really try to focus on," Porter said.
Porter competed in the 110 meter hurdles during the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, England and is hoping to compete again in Rio.
"It will be a second Olympics and hopefully the goal is to make the team, and then, get a medal," Porter said.
Porter is balancing his training with his studies at Eastern Michigan University where he is earning his PhD, he is also working at his alma mater the University of Michigan.
In addition to his own training, he is somewhat a volunteer as-needed coach to his wife, hurdler Tiffany Porter and his sister-in-law Cindy Ofili. Porter and Ofili have both qualified in the women's 100m hurdles for Great Britain. They too are proud Wolverines.
The three hope they will all be competing in the Olympic games in Rio de Janeiro.
"We're all excited. We're all trying to achieve this Olympic dream at the same time. So it's going to be fun. It's going to be a lot of fun," Porter said.
Candice Davis Price, 30, of Ypsilanti hopes the third time is the charm for her. She is competing in the women's 100 meter hurdles for the U.S. Olympic trials.
"(The) 100-meter hurdle has just kind of been a passion of mine," Davis Price said. "There's just so much adrenaline and emotion that goes into it. It's really hard to describe."
Davis Price has competed professionally around the world and her career has had her second to none other than Olympian Lolo Jones.
She narrowly missed qualifying for the 2008 Olympics, then in 2012 she suffered an injury before the trials. She worked hard to overcome but didn't make the Olympic team.
"I did pretty well given that circumstance. I got ninth. I didn't make the final and come to find out six weeks later I was like 10 weeks pregnant with Gianna," Price said.
Davis Price sees her daughter Gianna as her secret weapon this time around.
"I was looking at Gia was just like I don't ever want you to grow up and say 'Hey mommy why did you stop running' and me say 'because I had you," Price said, "I guess it's more about making sure I'm an example for her, and also me feeling like when its done that I did everything I could do, and there were no regrets."
Donald Scott trains alongside Davis Price at Eastern Michigan University for the triple jump event.
Scott, 24, came to EMU from Florida on a football scholarship.
"Triple jump is, like, it's a three phase jump, it's a hop phase, a skip phase, and a jump phase. You take off on one foot, and then you'll cycle in the air. And then you'll land on that same foot, and then it'll be a bound onto the other leg, and then after that leg you just hit the sand, from there you major the jump," Scott said.
Scott tells Local 4 he is thankful for his aunt who took him and his sisters in when he was child. It was a turning point for him, he began getting good grades and playing sports in high school.
"You know, growing up, I didn't have a lot. I'm actually the first person to go to college in my family. I graduated college with a degree. And now I'm chasing my dreams in sports," Scott said.
Scott graduated from EMU with a criminal justice degree. His focus right now is competing, but he does not rule out returning to school.
He said he is a big thinker and thinks about the opportunity to compete in Rio all the time.
"It's always good to visualize things and work to make things happen. It's just exciting to see where I should be in life," Donald Scott said.
Solomon Simmons of Eastern Michigan University, is the defending MAC Decathlon Champion, All America and is also competing at the Olympic trials in the decathlon.
U of M's Geena Gall is also hoping to return to the Olympics for the women's 800m race just like she did in the 2012 Olympics.
Other athletes with connections to the University of Michigan competing in the U.S. Olympic track and field trials include graduate Shannon Osika for the women's 1,500m race along with 2013 graduate Amanda Eccleston for the same event.
Another former athlete, Geena Gall, is also hoping to return to the Olympics for the women's 800m race just like she did in the 2012 Olympics
Mason Ferlic, a U of M graduate, is racing the 3000m steeplechase along with former Wolverine athlete Craig Forys.
Steven Bastien, a senior/junior will compete in the decathlon.
Taylor McLaughlin, a freshman, will compete in the 400 meter hurdles.
If you know someone competing to make the U.S. Olympic team, let us know at mstpierre@wdiv.com.
For the schedule of events for the U. S. Olympic Team track and field trials, click here.
For the schedule of how and when to watch, click here.