OxfordPress.com

MIDDLETOWN — When the nation's top track and field athletes compete for a spot on the U.S. Olympic Team, Ohio State's Jeff See will be among them.

And why not? The son of Kevin and Linda See of Middletown has established himself as one of the nation's best distance runners.

Earlier this month, See turned in a 3:40.76 time in the 1,500-meter run at a collegiate meet in Hillsdale, Mich. That performance qualified See for the trials. According to the USA Track & Field Web site, the nation's top 30 runners, most professionals runners, are eligible to compete. See's time places him 24th overall in the country.

The Olympic Team Trials for track and field take place Friday, June 27, through July 6 at Haywood Field in Eugene, Ore.

"This is all pretty exciting," See said in a phone interview. "Ever since I first came to OSU, my goal was to go to the Trials. It's nice to see that I was able to meet that goal."

Now that he's there, the Middletown High School state champion hopes to make it to the 1,500-meter finals.

See, who has earned college All-American status twice this year in the indoor mile and the outdoor 1,500-meters, likes his chances of making the Olympic team.

"My time makes it look like I'm an underdog, but a lot can happen in the 1,500. I wouldn't count myself out just yet," he said.

Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2851 or jbombatch@coxohio.com.