After qualifying for the finals in the hammer throw at the U.S. Olympic Trials, former Ball State track and field athlete Zach Riley fell short of making the Olympics.
His best throw out of three attempts was 223 feet, 7 inches, which was good enough for 10th place, but not enough to finish among the top three.
Only James Parker achieved an Olympic qualifying mark with his throw of 254 feet, 6 inches. The second and third place finishers can still make the Olympics if they reach a qualifying mark by August 9.
Riley will now turn his focus to his academic career. He will be moving to the University of Colorado where he will complete his doctorate.
Riley does not plan on competing in the hammer throw anymore.
"I have the - I guess you could say luck - that throwing isn't my life and I haven't made it my life," Riley said.
"What if somebody paid me so I could do this the next four years and make the 2008 team for Beijing and I think there's a great possibility that I could? But I would also miss four more years of advancing my career."
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