Big names in Northwest running bow out of Olympic Team Trials, creating room for new stars to...

Some of the biggest names in American running have bowed out of the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Team Trials as the 10-day competition moves into the starting blocks in Eugene. The scratches open a lane for a new generation of stars to earn spots in the delayed Tokyo Olympics.

In quick succession earlier this week, steeplechase medalist Evan Jager of Portland, three-time Olympian Shannon Rowbury, who also trains in Portland, and 10,000 meter American record holder Molly Huddle announced their withdrawals from the 2021 Olympic Trials.

In an Instagram video, Jager said he is still struggling to recover from Achilles inflammation and tightness and pain in his calf. Rowbury, a 1500 meter specialist, said a stress fracture would keep her out of the trials. Huddle said nagging hip and ankle injuries caused her to pull out.

The biggest shocker though for the local and national running community was the disclosure Monday that anti-doping officials have banned top U.S. middle distance runner Shelby Houlihan from competition for four years. The Beaverton-based Nike Bowerman Track Club star tested positive for the steroid nandrolone.

Houlihan and her coaches protested her innocence during an emotional news conference in which they blamed the positive test result on a contaminated burrito purchased from a Beaverton food truck. Her attorneys are pursuing an appeal of the disciplinary sanction in the Swiss court system, which has jurisdiction over international sports.