EUGENE, Ore. -- After finishing the discus competition at the Athens Olympics as the top American four years ago, Casey Malone paused to take in the surroundings.

The sixth-place finisher was initially told he would have to quickly leave the competition area, but officials didn't take the athletes out right away. Malone didn't pass up the opportunity to savor the moment, unsure if he would ever be in the same hallowed position.

"I put my stuff back down and sat there in one of the most privileged seats in the middle of the Olympic stadium for the final and I loved that atmosphere. I loved drinking all that in," he said Sunday. "I didn't know that I would be back in four years."

Now he does.

The University of Colorado throws coach finished third at the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials on Sunday to qualify for the Beijing Olympics. He threw 205 feet, 7 inches on his first throw of the day, and that held up as the former Colorado State star earned his second consecutive spot on Team USA. Ian Waitz won with a throw of 216-01.

"There are so many things that can happen in four years," said Malone, who won an NCAA title at CSU. "Discus throwers can be very competitive into their late 30s, and I'm only 31, so I thought I had a couple more chances. But you never know."

Malone can't compete full time, like some of the world's top throwers. This spring, while most of those athletes were working on their form, he was making sure Potts Field would beready for its big day.

As co-meet director of the Big 12 Championships, Malone had plenty to think about beyond his own athletic concerns. When he wasn’t worrying about the bleachers at Potts, or the athletes he coaches, Malone took some time for himself. That was enough to make him an Olympian.

“I wanted to make sure CU held a meet that was up to the standard that the other Big 12 schools expected,” he said. “Luckily (CU head coach) Mark Wetmore understands I still want to compete with the world’s best and allows me time to train.”

Malone uncorked his qualifying toss Sunday on his first attempt, drawing oohs and aahs from the Hawyard Field crowd. That throw traveled 205 feet, 7 inches.

The last inch was critical.

Fourth-place Doug Reynold’s best throw was 205-6, and Malone hit 205-7 twice in his six attempts. But Olympic berths aren’t given out for margin of victory.

“I know Doug is capable of throwing far throws as well. I didn’t feel safe by any means,” Malone said. “I was hoping to get a better throw. It didn’t quite happen, but I am definitely pleased with a throw that makes the team.”

Malone has coached at CU the past eight seasons and has been able to train in Boulder and Fort Collins, where he lives with wife and CU jumps coach Lindsey Malmgren. He doesn’t get to compete as much as most of the world’s top throwers, but his job does allow him to work on his own technique as he teaches it.

“It’s incredibly difficult to make the team one time, and I remembered four years ago how difficult it was,” Malone said. “And the number of guys with the ‘A’ standard has almost double since the last competition, so I knew it was going to be tough.”

Boulder to Beijing

Athletes with Boulder County connections who earned berths on the U.S. Olympic Track and Field team:

Kara Goucher — 5,000 meters; 10,000 meters

Shalane Flanagan — 5,000 meters; 10,000 meters

Jenny Barringer — 3,000 steeplechase

Billy Nelson — 3,000 steeplechase

Jorge Torres — 10,000 meters

Casey Malone — Discus

Dathan Ritzenhein — Marathon