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Eugene, Ore. • Former BYU track star Shaquille Walker needed a helping hand to keep his Olympics dream alive. Instead of a helping hand, he got a boot in the backside at the U.S. Olympic Trials.
Walker's protest was overturned Saturday afternoon after he became tangled with Craig Engels on the final straightaway in the 800-meter semifinals. Engels tumbled to the track, and his protest was upheld before Walker responded with an unsuccessful protest of his own.
"I feel cheated," Walker said.
Walker said Engels, a senior-to-be at Mississippi, "tripped on me" when he tried to maneuver past Walker.
"I was in second with like 40 meters to go," Walker said.
Walker, who recently turned pro after his junior season at BYU, finished fourth in his heat in 1:47.93. The top three finishers in each of the two heats advanced to Monday's finals, plus the next two fastest runners and — thanks to his protest — Engels will make the finals a rare nine-man event.
Asked if he would have cracked the top three without colliding with Engels, Walker said, "I think I get top three for sure."
Walker added, "He stepped on me, and it just stole all my momentum."
Engels' 1:55.40 time ranked 14th among 15 finishers. Walker came in 10th overall. Boris Berian of New Balance posted the best time of 1:45.72.
"They said I cut in (on Engels)," Walker said. "From the angle they saw, we're like, 'OK, that's cutting.' But if you see it from a side angle, I came in to pass the guy in front of me … he (Engels) just ran into me."
Engels, reacting to his successful protest via Twitter, wrote, "God is great!"
Walker, who has signed with the Brooks athletic shoes and apparel company, plans to leave shortly to compete on the European pro tour. Walker said he'll be joined by his wife, Katarina, before the two move to Seattle so Walker can train with the Brooks Beasts track club.
No matter where Walker travels, he won't soon forget his first Olympic Trials.
"If I got beat, all right, I got beat," Walker said. "I feel cheated."
Walker, a native of Richmond Hill, Ga., said he definitely plans to make a run at the 2020 Olympics.
"Every setback has a major comeback," he said.
Three finals were held in gorgeous sunshine Saturday before a near-capacity crowd of 21,866 at Oregon's Hayward Field.
Nike's Brittney Reese long jumped 23 feet, 11 3/4 inches, which ranks first in the world this year. Saucony's Molly Huddle won the 10,000 in 31:41.62. Nike's Whitney Ashley took first in the discus at 204-2.
In a high school exhibition mile, American Fork standout Casey Clinger came in third in 4:05.96. Reed Brown of Southlake, Texas, won in 4:04.73.