Marble Falls graduate Leonel Manzano qualifies for Olympics in 1,500 meters

EUGENE, Ore. — With a sprinter’s determination and a kick that’s left high school and college competition in the dust, Leonel Manzano won the men’s 1,500 meters at the U.S. Olympic Trials on July 1 to qualify for his second consecutive Summer Games.

Manzano, a 2004 graduate of Marble Falls High School, pulled away from the pack after the final turn — flashing a hook ’em Horns hand sign — and finished in 3 minutes 35.75 seconds. He had already hit the A standard of 3:35.50 to run at the London Olympics that starts in 25 days. If athletes do not make that standard, they cannot compete in the Games regardless of if they make the team.