Amber Welty

Time is running out on former NCAA high jump champion Amber Welty's dream to compete in the Olympics this year. Welty, who qualified for the U.S. Olympic team in the high jump at the track and field trials at New Orleans last Saturday, needs to clear the Olympic qualifying standard of 6 feet 3 1/2 by midnight next Wednesday to ensure her trip to Barcelona. Wednesday night, about 1,000 fans turned out to see Welty's attempt to make it at a meet at Idaho State.

All that separated Amber Welty from a spot in the Summer Olympics at Barcelona was a jump of 6 feet 3 1/2. Not anymore. Welty, a former Idaho State standout who is now an assistant coach at that school, on Friday earned one of the three high jump spots on the U.S. Olympic team when she cleared that height in a special competition at Boise State. Welty finished second in the Olympic trials with a jump of 6-2 1/4, but she failed to reach the Olympic qualifying mark of 6-3 1/2.

All that separated Amber Welty from a spot in the Summer Olympics at Barcelona was a jump of 6 feet 3 1/2. Not anymore. Welty, a former Idaho State standout who is now an assistant coach at that school, on Friday earned one of the three high jump spots on the U.S. Olympic team when she cleared that height in a special competition at Boise State. Welty finished second in the Olympic trials with a jump of 6-2 1/4, but she failed to reach the Olympic qualifying mark of 6-3 1/2.

Time is running out on former NCAA high jump champion Amber Welty's dream to compete in the Olympics this year. Welty, who qualified for the U.S. Olympic team in the high jump at the track and field trials at New Orleans last Saturday, needs to clear the Olympic qualifying standard of 6 feet 3 1/2 by midnight next Wednesday to ensure her trip to Barcelona. Wednesday night, about 1,000 fans turned out to see Welty's attempt to make it at a meet at Idaho State.