KHSAA congratulated three former Kentucky high school track and field and swimming athletes for qualifying for the 2021 Tokyo Olympics July 23 to August 8.
Ronnie Baker, a two-time Class 3A state champion from Ballard in the 100 and 400 meter dash in 2011 and 2012, qualified for Tokyo in the 100 meter dash. He competed on the collegiate level at Texas Christian University.
Yared Nuguse won the Class 3A state championship in the 800 meters, 1600 and 3200 as a member of the Dupont Manual team. He also won the Class 3A cross country individual title in 2016. He will run the 1500 meters in Tokyo.
Both Baker and Nuguse qualified at the Track and Field Olympic Trials held in Eugene Oregon.
Baker placed second in Eugene in the 100 meters in 9.85 behind first place finisher Trayvon Bromell in 9.80.
Nuguse placed third in the 1500 with a time of 3:36.19. The first three across the line automatically qualify as long as they have or meet the Olympic standard qualifying time by July 1. Nuguse, who competes for Notre Dame, broke the NCAA record in the 1500 meters in May at the ACC Outdoor Championships with a time of 3:34.68.
Brooke Forde, a five-time KHSAA individual state champion in swimming, led Sacred Heart to four straight KHSAA titles from 2014-2017. In 2015 she won the state title in the 200 IM, in 2016 and 2017 won both the 200 and 500 freestyle. She has qualified for the Olympics in the 4 x 200 relay.
The Swimming Olympic Trials were held in Omaha, Nebraska. Forde’s sixth place finish in the 400 IM and sixth in the 200 meter freestyle earned her a spot on the team. She was a member of the Stanford University swim team.