WSBT photo // Rick Schutt

Plymouth rallies around hometown hero Morgan Uceny, gathering to watch Uceny run for an Olympic medal in the 1500 meters Friday afternoon (WSBT photo // Rick Schutt) (August 10, 2012)

WSBT-TV Report WSBT-TV

3:21 p.m. EDT, August 10, 2012
Years and years of work for a four minute race.

Plymouth's Morgan Uceny ran the biggest race of her life Friday afternoon in the 1500 meter finals at the London Olympics. She tripped and fell at the beginning of the final lap. She did not finish the race.

Uceny was running in 6th place as she crossed the line to begin the final lap. That's when her and the other competitors began to make their moves.

Moments later, Uceny went down hard, tumbling as the other runners passed her by.

Uceny's left foot hit the knee of the Ethiopian runner behind her. Then her left leg tripped over her right leg. Though other runners stumbled, they did not fall.

It was all too familiar for Uceny. She was in the lead at the 2011 World Championships when she was tripped up and fell in that race as well.

After the race, Uceny posted this message to her Facebook page:

"I've never experienced such a heart breaking moment. I put myself in the perfect position coming into the bell lap and felt so relaxed and just ready to roll...I even thought to myself 'I AM getting a medal' and the next thing I know I'm skidding on the track, out of contention. As soon as it happened I knew it was over, and I couldn't control the emotions. I was able to see my family tonight, and I don't know what I would have done without them. They all shared my tears but also were the rocks of support that I needed. I feel like I'm in a dream, and that I will wake up tomorrow to August 10th to race the 1500m final over....but no. I can't thank all of you enough for the TREMENDOUS amount of support given to me. It's been unbelievable and has made me realize was special people are in my life, so thank you. And here's to the journey ahead, cheers."

 

 

Huddle led off

Michiana was rooting on another Olympian Friday afternoon.

Notre Dame graduate Molly Huddle got her medal shot in the women's 5,000 meter run and came up short.

Huddle ran the race in 15:20.29, only good enough for 11th place out of the 15 runners.

Defar Meseret of Ethiopia won the 5,000 with a time of 15:04.25.

World champion Vivian Cheruiyot of Kenya surged into second place in the last 50 meters to claim the silver medal in 15.04.73.