Ashland University Coach Competing for United States

Thinking that the third time may be a charm, Ashland University’s strength and conditioning coach A.G. Kruger is training hard and competing at the national level with the goal of making the United States Olympic Team for the third straight time.

For Kruger, one of the stepping stones to reaching this milestone is competing for the United States on Sept. 4 at the Continental Cup. This international track and field meet will be held in Split, Croatia.

Kruger, who will be competing in the hammer throw, will be the lone United States entrant in the event. The competition will consist of four throws per competitor and Kruger’s goal is to throw in the vicinity of 256 feet.

In 2008, Kruger competed in the Beijing Olympics after finishing first in the hammer throw at the United States Olympic Trials in Eugene, Ore. Kruger won his third consecutive national title and made the U.S. Olympic team for the second time by finishing first with a throw of 248-9. Kevin McMahon was second (244-5) and Jake Freeman was third (241-5).

However, Kruger’s bid for a medal at the Olympic Games ended in the qualifying round of the hammer throw when he finished 27th in a field of 33 competitors. Each competitor threw three times in the preliminary round.

Kruger, who has won four consecutive U.S. championships and was champion at the 2008 Olympic Trials and runner-up at the 2004 Olympic Trials, first competed for the United States in the 2004 Olympics in Athens.

The past spring, Kruger was named as an inductee into the U.S. Track and Field/Cross Country Coaches Association of America Hall of Fame.