CHARLESTON, S.C. – The Citadel graduate senior Capers Williamson has qualified for the 2016 U.S. Olympic Team Trials in Eugene, Oregon, and will begin competition in the opening round of the javelin throw at 3:45 p.m. East Standard Time on Saturday at the historic Hawyard Field.
 
"This is one of those once-in-a-lifetime moments and we are so excited for him to be able to have this experience," said The Citadel head track and field coach Jody Huddleston. "Eugene is a very special place in the world of track and field, not only getting to experience that but then also to get to throw in the Olympic Trials on top of it is a very special way to end your Citadel track and field career.  The coaches, his teammates and The Citadel want to wish him all the best."
 
In order to qualify for the event, the decorated Bulldog needed to have a top-24 javelin throw among eligible Americans who declared for the trials. Williamson catapulted into the elite field during the 2016 Southern Conference Outdoor Championships  with a- school and SoCon-record throw of 239 feet, 4 inches.
 
That heave earned him his second consecutive conference title and allowed him to end the qualifying period ranked 23rd in the group heading to the Olympic Trials this weekend. Williamson would need to place in the top 12 in the first round Saturday to reach the finals of competition, which would take place at 7:25 p.m. on July 4. The top three finishers at the Olympic Trials will compete for the United States at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
 
Williamson recently wrapped up his career at The Citadel, placing 15th at the NCAA East Preliminary. He shattered his own records in the javelin three different times in 2016 and remains the only Bulldog to ever earn SoCon Field Athlete of the Month honors twice in the same campaign.
 
"What Capers has done is prove that hard work and dedication does indeed pay off," Coach Huddleston said. "He has worked tremendously hard over the last three years and as he worked harder each year, he just kept throwing farther and farther."
 
For all the latest on The Citadel track and field squads, follow @CitadelOlympic or visit CitadelSports.com.