Hurdler David Oliver Has Automatic Berth Into World Championships

Published by the Denver Post on June 21, 2015

Athletes at the USA Track & Field Outdoor Championships this week in Eugene, Ore., will be hoping to earn spots in this summer's biennial world championships by finishing among the top three in their events. David Oliver doesn't have to worry about that.

The Denver East High School graduate gets a free pass to the world championships, which will be held Aug. 22-30 on the track in Beijing where he won an Olympic bronze medal in the 110-meter hurdles. He is going by virtue of being the reigning world champion.

The U.S. championships remain serious business for him, though.

"Having the bye, that's cool, but I'm still going to the U.S. championships with the mind-set I always have — I'm trying to go there and win it and have a great performance," Oliver said. "It's an excellent opportunity to run three aggressive rounds and get yourself in the mind-set of a championship environment and not just (dismiss) the opportunity because you have a bye.