The Men's 1,500 Meters final closed out the 2008 Track and Field Olympic Trials in Eugene, Oregon yesterday. And for the winner of that event, Bernard Lagat, and a select group of others who succeed at Hayward Field, the next stop is Beijing.

As an Oregon alumni, the past 10 days of T&F Olympic coverage have been a pleasure to watch. Though I wasn't personally in Eugene for the historic event, a number of my friends and fellow Oregon graduates were--and they did their best to give me the daily, sometimes-hourly updates I pestered them for.

Though I clearly have a biased opinion, I heard nothing but good things about the T&F trials. Good weather, committed fans and a plethora of outstanding races and scores.

And we can't forget about the Swimming Olympic Trials that just ended in Omaha Nebraska.

41-year-old Dara Torres enjoyed her share of the limelight securing a spot on her fifth Olympic team and setting a new American record in the 50 freestyle. And Michael Phelps, what more can I say? He's simply an outstanding athlete who continues to dominate the sport of swimming.

Onward to Beijing.

Go Ducks

With the American Olympic Judo team trials over (held June 13-15 in Las Vegas), Ronda Rousey will make her way to Beijing in hopes of becoming the first American woman to medal in Olympic Judo-- and I can't wait to cheer her on!

She's already earned a silver medal at the 2007 Worlds event and if she performs as well as we all know she can, she'll be on the podium in August.

http://www.nbcolympics.com/judo/news/newsid=137543.html#ippon+yuko+las+vegas

Hi weplay Olympic fans. This is Candice reporting live from the 2008 Gymnastics Olympic Trials in Philadelphia, PA.

The best gymnasts in the nation are here to show the US Gymnastics National Team Coordinators that they deserve a spot on the Olympic team.

Here's how it works:

The two highest scoring gymnasts at the end of the meet are guaranteed a place on the Olympic team.

The remaining Olympic hopefuls will find out if they've earned an invitation to the Olympic selection camps (held in July) shortly after the final night of competition on Sunday.

The selection camps give the gymnasts one last chance to impress the Olympic coaches in hopes of earning one of the four remaining Olympic team spots.

I'll be working this event all week, so keep checking in for new multimedia and blog updates. For now, I've uploaded a few behind the scene pics of the crew covering the event (where I'm working) and a few photos inside the Wachovia Center arena here in Philly.

The road to Beijing starts here!

After watching the 2008 Visa Championships this weekend, I am more confident than ever that the US women's gymnastics team will be the team to beat in Beijing.

16-year-old powerhouse Shawn Johnson took home her second national title beating out the graceful 18-year-old Nastia Liukin. If you don't recognize these names, you will in a couple of months.

Johnson is peaking at just right the time. Besides her two national titles, she recently won gold in the individual all-around at Worldsa title only three other USA women have held. As for Liukin, she's a four time US Champion that some compare to the legendary Svetlana Khorkina of Russiaprobably one of the most outstanding and elegant gymnasts to ever compete.

Johnson and Liukin are almost guaranteed one of the six spots on the US Olympic Team. But who will fill the final four? The US Gymnastic Team Trials will be held June 19th June 22 at the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia. I'll actually be working the event, so be sure to check in for blog and picture/movie updates from behind the scenes.

Also, the US Track and Field Team Trials will be held just one week after the gymnastic team trials. Famous Hayward Field at the University of Oregon in Eugene, (my alma mater) will be hosting the event. I'll be sure to keep you updated on the latest as the best in the nation take to the track June 27- July 6th.