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Blankenbaker experiences Olympic-level competition

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Watching the Olympic Games is the next best thing to competing in the Olympics. Although Dylan Blankenbaker was 20 positions away from earning a berth on the United States Olympic Team, he is watching some of the athletes he met during the Olympic Team Trials.

Blankenbaker, who graduated from Ramona High School in 2012, concluded his University of Oklahoma junior collegiate season June 8-11 at the National Collegiate Athletic Association track and field championship meet in Eugene, Ore., and finished fourth in the men’s steeplechase. He was invited to return to Eugene for the July 1-8 Olympic Team Trials.

“Just qualifying for it was amazing,” Blankenbaker said. “That was my goal at the beginning of the season, and qualifying for it was great.”

Blankenbaker was one of 24 United States men invited to the 3,000-meter steeplechase race at the Olympic Team Trials. The runners with the three fastest times in the finals were given lanes in the 2016 Olympic Games. Blankenbaker didn’t reach the finals. He placed 23rd out of the 24 invited athletes.

He would have preferred a selection to the Olympic Games.

“Obviously I want to compete as much as I can,” he said.

Blankenbaker has no regrets about not qualifying for the finals.

“I’m definitely not disappointed,” he said. “I wasn’t expected to make it to nationals. I wasn’t expected to make it to the Olympic trials. Just getting where I got this year was more than I asked for.”

The Olympic Team Trials runners became acquainted with each other, so Blankenbaker spoke with the eventual Olympic representatives in the steeplechase.

“It was really cool,” he said.

Blankenbaker also had interaction with the Olympic qualifiers on the track.

“I toed the line right next to the American record holder and eventual trial champion,” he said.

His participation in the Olympic Team Trials allowed him to experience Olympic-level competition.

“I think I just have sort of a feeling that I’m close to that level,” Blankenbaker said. “I’m really close to being at that level.”

That has convinced him of his ability to be more competitive.

“This year has been about proving to myself that I can compete at that level,” he said. “I have a lot of confidence in my ability.”

Not only was Blankenbaker competing against runners who finished ahead of him in the NCAA nationals, but he was also vying for an Olympic berth against residents of the Olympic Training Center.

“I’ve never lost that dream of being in the top three in the Olympic trials,” Blankenbaker said. “It’s my dream to be able to pursue the Olympics.”

The 2020 Olympic Games will be held in Tokyo.

“If I can do my best right now, four years from now will take care of itself if that’s meant to be,” Blankenbaker said.

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